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permit Meaning & Definition

pər-ˈmit

What Does Permit Mean?

Permit is used as a verb meaning to consent to expressly or formally. It is also used to mean to give leave. As a noun, it means a written warrant or license granted by one having authority. As a noun, it means a pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) that is an important game fish of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic.

Word Facts for Permit

Part of speechverb, noun
Pronunciation/pər-ˈmit/
Syllables2
Synonymscountenance, allow and permission
Antonymskeep, prevent and forbid
Pluralpermits
Verb formspermits, permitting, permitted

Permit Definition (Verb)

  1. to consent to expressly or formally

    permit access to records

  2. to give leave : authorize
  3. to make possible

    the design permits easy access

  4. to give an opportunity : allow

    if time permits

Permit as a Noun

  1. a written warrant or license granted by one having authority

    a gun permit

  2. permission

Noun

  1. a pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) that is an important game fish of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic

Synonyms of Permit

Permit synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Permit

Permit in a Sentence

The Building Department permitted that project last week.

We've been busy permitting the State Street development.

A construction permit can be obtained from the town offices.

Go over to the park office and get a permit for the #3 shelter.

permit access to records

the design permits easy access

if time permits

a gun permit

the school won't permit such an activity on its grounds

you are not permitted to swim at the town pond without a season pass

we'll have our picnic on Thursday, weather permitting

the college permits way too much drinking, in my opinion

the photo is too grainy to permit of anything more than a slight enlargement

Word Forms & Grammar

per·mit·ted

per·mit·ting

per·mit·tee noun

per·mit·ter noun

permit

permits

permitted

permittee

permittees

permitter

permitters

permitting

permit (of)

permit of

permit (third-person singular simple present permits, present participle permitting, simple past and past participle permitted)

permit (plural permits)

permit (plural permit)

Words That Rhyme With Permit

Origin of Permit

Origin 1: Middle English permitten, from Latin permittere to let through, permit, from per- through + mittere to let go, send

Origin 2: perhaps by folk etymology from Spanish palometa, a kind of pompano, from diminutive of paloma dove, from Latin palumba, palumbes palomino

Origin 3: From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).

Origin 4: An irregular borrowing from Spanish palometa, probably from a Doric variant of Ancient Greek πηλαμύς (pēlamús, “young tuna”).

First Known Use

15th centuryt

1649

1884

Pronouncing Permit

Permit is pronounced /pər-ˈmit/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (mit).

Quick Answers About Permit

Is permit a verb or a noun?

Permit is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for permit?

Close synonyms of permit are countenance, allow and permission. See the full list of permit synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of permit?

The opposite of permit can be expressed with words like keep, prevent, forbid and proscribe.

What is the plural of permit?

The plural of permit is permits.

What is the past tense of permit?

The past tense of permit is permitted. The present participle is permitting.

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