consent

1 of 2

verb

con·​sent kən-ˈsent 

consented; consenting; consents

intransitive verb

1

: to give assent or approval : agree

consent to being tested

She consented to our request.

2

archaic : to be in concord in opinion or sentiment

consenter noun

consentingly

kən-ˈsen-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

consent

2 of 2

noun

1

: compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed by another : acquiescence

he shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties

—U.S. Constitution

2

: agreement as to action or opinion

specifically : voluntary agreement by a people to organize a civil society and give authority to the government

Synonyms

Verb

• accede
• acquiesce
• agree
• assent
• come round
• subscribe

Noun

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• granting
• green light
• leave
• license
• licence
• permission
• sanction
• sufferance
• warrant

Choose the Right Synonym for consent

assent, consent, accede, acquiesce, agree, subscribe mean to concur with what has been proposed.

assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

consented to their daughter's going

accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

Examples of consent in a Sentence

Verb

He was reluctant at first but finally consented.

refused to consent to the marriage

Noun

He did not give his consent for the use of his name in the advertisement.

No one may use the vehicle without the consent of the owner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

James was added to a transplant waiting list in February 2023, and on Memorial Day weekend in May a donor was identified: a deceased man in his 30s whose family consented to donate his organs. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2023

Her mother consented in court November 3, 1864. CHASE: And the child and her mother were both formerly held as slaves by you. —Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023

In circumstances when the actor has died, the Union or the actors’ estate must also consent. —Krystie Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023

On Thursday, Netanyahu consented, allowing daily four-hour breaks in the fighting. —Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023

The studios, for their part, have proposed new regulations requiring that performers consent to the creation and use of onscreen AI doubles. —Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023

Every Habibi Funk reissue divides its profits 50-50 between the label and the artist (or their living relatives who consented to the release). —Time, 3 Oct. 2023

Faucette consented to the procedure after being fully informed of the risks, according to the university. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023

Only one woman consented to making her statement public. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023

Noun

Now, the pair represent an array of programmers, artists, and writers, including comedian Sarah Silverman, who allege that generative AI companies are infringing upon their rights by training on their work without their consent. —Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023

Lock your photos Don’t allow someone to go snooping through your photos without your consent. —Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023

The amendment approved by voters to the state constitution of Ohio includes a grave and purposeful undermine of parental consent. —Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, National Review, 19 Nov. 2023

With the rise of AI, civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the privacy rights of citizens who are not only being recorded, but whose actions will now be evaluated without their consent. —Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023

And if a deceased performer is in need of consent, a representative, heir, or beneficiary can give the all-clear. —Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023

Classical’s old policy said school staff should not disclose information that could reveal a student’s gender identity to others without the student’s consent or unless required by law. —Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023

Shaw admitted to touching the breasts and buttocks of four student-athletes without a medical reason and without their consent, the U.S. attorney’s office said. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023

He was asked if actors could be required to give an AI consent as a condition of employment. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English consenten, concenten "to be in agreement, assent (to), approve, comply, connive (in a crime)," borrowed from Anglo-French cunsentir, consentir "to grant, permit, hand over, support, give in, agree" (also continental Old French), going back to Latin consentīre "to join in feeling, be in agreement, concur in opinion, (of things) be in harmony," from con- con- + sentīre "to perceive, feel, discern" — more at sense entry 1

Noun

Middle English consent, concent "agreement, approval, connivance," borrowed from Anglo-French consent, cunsent, noun derivative of cunsentir "to grant, permit, consent entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing consent

• consent decree
• by mutual consent
• age of consent
• by common consent
• informed consent
• written consent
• common consent

• consent decree
• by mutual consent
• age of consent
• by common consent
• informed consent
• written consent
• common consent

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Kids Definition

consent

1 of 2 verb

con·​sent kən-ˈsent 

: to express willingness or approval : agree

consenter noun

consent

2 of 2 noun

: approval of what is done or suggested

Legal Definition

consent

noun

con·​sent

1

a

: compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed by another

specifically : the voluntary agreement or acquiescence by a person of age or with requisite mental capacity who is not under duress or coercion and usually who has knowledge or understanding see also age of consent, informed consent, rape, statutory rape

b

: a defense claiming that the victim consented to an alleged crime (as rape)

2

: agreement as to action or opinion

shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties

—U.S. Constitution art. II

a contract is formed by the consent of the parties

—Louisiana Civil Code

specifically : voluntary agreement by a people to organize a civil society and give authority to a government

consent intransitive verb

consenter noun