permit

verb per·mit \ pər-ˈmit \

Examples: permit in a Sentence

Definition of permit

permitted; permitting

transitive 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

intransitive verb

: to give an opportunity : allow

if time permits

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permittee

play \pər-ˌmi(t)-ˈtē, ˌpər-mi(t)-\ noun

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permitter

noun

See permit defined for English-language learners

See permit defined for kids

Examples of permit in a Sentence

The judge permitted the release of the prisoner.
Smoking is not permitted in the building.
When we arrived at customs we realized we had more than the permitted number of items.
He permitted himself one more cookie.
The new ramp permits easier access to the highway.

Origin and Etymology of permit

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

permit Synonyms

Phrases

stand for;

permit

noun per·mit \ ˈpər-ˌmit , pər-ˈmit \

Definition of permit

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

a gun permit

2 : permission

First Known Use of permit

1649

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

permit

noun per·mit \ ˈpər-ˌmit , pər-ˈmit \

Definition of permit

: either of two pompanos (Trachinotus falcatus and T. goodei) that are important game fishes of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic

Origin and Etymology of permit

perhaps by folk etymology from Spanish palometa, a kind of pompano, from diminutive of paloma dove, from Latin palumba, palumbes — more at palomino

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1884

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

PERMIT Defined for English Language Learners

permit

verb

Definition of permit for English Language Learners

: to allow (something) to happen : to give permission for (something)
: to allow (someone) to do or have something
: to make something possible

PERMIT Defined for Kids

permit

verb per·mit \ pər-ˈmit \

Definition of permit for Students

permitted; permitting

1 : to allow to happen or do : give permission

2 : to make possible : give an opportunity

We'll visit the museum if time permits.

Word Root of permit

The Latin word mittere, meaning “to send,” and its form missus give us the roots mit and miss. Words from the Latin mittere have something to do with sending. A missile is an object, such as a bullet, arrow, or rocket, that is sent through the air so as to hit a target. To emit is to send forth or give out. To omit, or leave out, is to send away so as to not be included. To permit, or allow, is to send something through without stopping it.