permit

pur-MIT/pɚˈmɪt/UKpuh-MIT/pəˈmɪt/

As a nounPUR-mit

Verbpermits, permitting, permitted

Noun pluralpermits, permit

11 meanings of permit

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To let something happen or to say yes to it.
Like a parent saying yes when a child asks to go outside.
The teacher does not permit phones in class.
The new rules permit visitors to take photos.
Similarallow, authorize, sanction, approve, tolerate
Oppositeforbid, prohibit, ban, bar
Note
2
verbtransitive
To let someone do something.
Like a coach letting a player join the game.
Her parents permit her to stay up late on Fridays.
The guard permitted us to enter the museum early.
Similarallow, authorize, enable
Oppositeforbid, prohibit, bar
3
nouncountable
An official document that says you are allowed to do something.
Like a ticket that proves you are allowed in.
You need a permit to build a fence here.
The office issues hundreds of parking permits each month.
Similarlicense, authorization, pass, warrant
4
verbtransitive
To officially allow something by giving formal approval.
Like getting a green light from someone in charge.
The state will permit the new pipeline after a review.
Authorities permitted the march through downtown.
Similarauthorize, approve, license, sanction
Oppositeprohibit, ban
Note
5
verbintransitive
To make something possible by not getting in the way.
Like a door being open so you can walk through.
We'll have the picnic outside, weather permitting.
The team will start early if conditions permit.
Similarallow
Note
6
nouncountable
A document that lets a new driver practice driving before getting a full license.
Like a beginner's pass that lets you practice before the real thing.
Once she turned fifteen, she could finally get her permit and practice driving with her dad.
He kept his permit in his wallet so he could practice parking after school.
7
verbintransitive
To leave room for something, or to allow it as a possibility.
The strict rules permit of no exceptions.
Her answer permits of two meanings.
Similaradmit, allow
Note
8
verbtransitive
To get official permission for something, or to try to get it.
Like getting all your papers approved before you can start.
They have to permit the building before construction can begin.
The developer permitted the whole site last year.
Note
9
nouncountable
A large silvery ocean fish that lives in warm coastal waters.
The angler hooked a permit on the shallow flats.
Permits are prized catches for fly fishers in the Florida Keys.
Note

Less common meanings

10
verbarchaic
To hand something over to someone else, or give it up to them.
Like giving your treasure to someone you trust to keep it.
He permitted his estate to his eldest son before he died.
Let us not aggravate our sorrows, / But to the gods permit the event of things.
1712, [Joseph] Addison, CatoHere, permit means to hand over, leaving the outcome to the gods.
Note
11
nounobsolete
Official permission given by someone in charge to do something.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–8, 10–11

From Latin permittō, meaning "to allow," made from per ("through") and mittō ("send"). It came into English through French.

Meaning 9

An unusual borrowing from Spanish palometa, probably from a Doric form of an Ancient Greek word for "young tuna."