variants
or licence
1
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
the company is seeking license to operate several more power plants in the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accreditation
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties
a restaurant owner has to get a license to serve food and drink
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in authorization
the right to act or move freely
military commanders on the ground must be granted considerable license, as wars cannot be micromanaged by people back in Washington
Synonyms & Similar Words
variants
also licence
as in to enable
to give official or legal power to
a state statute licenses county sheriffs to choose their own deputies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of license
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The department has also underscored that businesses selling unlawful products face fines, license suspension or revocation, and potential criminal penalties.
—David Kroll, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Liu plans to get licensed to pierce people.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for license
Noun
Zbur’s legislation, Assembly Bill 2039, would require the State Bar strip the license of any attorney with a felony conviction for a practice known as capping, in which law firms directly solicit or procure clients to sign up for lawsuits.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The department has also underscored that businesses selling unlawful products face fines, license suspension or revocation, and potential criminal penalties.
—David Kroll, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
Additionally, owners, facilitators, and natural medicine handlers all need to be licensed by the state and those licenses must be renewed every year.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Liu plans to get licensed to pierce people.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for license
Recent Examples of Synonyms for license
Noun
-
With this special permission from the DOC Kakapo Project Manager and the Mauri Ora Kakapo Trust, my clients travel to spectacular South Island locations otherwise inaccessible to visitors – and home to the only remaining Kakapo now being carefully protected in the wild.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Many of Banky’s works appear on public and private spaces where permission may not have been granted.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Technically, no, at least not one with professional accreditation.—
Mark Lamster,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Stallard says the zoo must grow in size to avoid risking its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike prior authorization, which happens before the patient gets a service, pre-payment review occurs after the service but before reimbursement, while post-payment review could force providers to pay Medicaid back.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The authorization lasts until April 19.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Poulette’s new digs — complete with a bigger kitchen, larger walk-in cooler and upgraded ovens — will enable the business to increase production of its staples, such as macarons, as well as add new items to the menu.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Next-gen atomic clock The breakthrough in miniaturisation is enabled by a quantum-optical technique known as coherent population trapping, which replaces the bulkier microwave-cavity approach used in traditional atomic clocks.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Congress and federal regulators are considering changes to the nation's organ donation system, including how consent is recorded and what should happen when a donor changes their mind.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The three cases deal with requirements to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent, and all of them make access to lawful speech conditional on identity verification — a violation of freedom of speech and parents’ autonomy to decide what’s best for their children.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many current biofuel mandates trace their origins to the 1970s energy shock, while the US Energy Independence and Security Act followed a 2007-08 price spike, said Dr Timothy Deehan, a senior oil analyst at LSEG.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Speaking on the Tucker Carlson Show following his resignation from the NCC, Kent said his office initially pursued leads related to possible foreign connections in the case, which fell within its mandate.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Depending on how bad the pest ruined plants in a particular latitude, the farmer either made it financially, or borrowed more from the bank to eat during the winter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The state’s Board of Nursing once had broad latitude to approve, or deny, new nursing programs and oversee existing ones.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The city's Board of Directors approved a resolution authorizing the grant application in a unanimous voice vote as part of the board's consent agenda during a meeting Tuesday.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Congress responded by authorizing all necessary means to go after the perpetrators of 9/11.—
Ryan Lucas,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“License.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/license. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
