Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense permits, present participle permitting, past tense, past participle permittedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (pəʳmɪt). The noun is pronounced (pɜːʳmɪt).
1. verb
If someone permits something, they allow it to happen. If they permit you to do something, they allow you to do it.
[formal, written, formal]
He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution. [VERB noun]
The guards permitted me to bring my camera. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Employees are permitted to use the golf course during their free hours. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
No outside journalists have been permitted into the country. [beVERB-ed + into]
If they appear to be under 12, then the doorman is not allowed to permit them entryto the film. [VERB noun noun]
Synonyms: allow, admit, grant, sanction More Synonyms of permit
2. countable noun
A permit is an official document which says that you may do something. For example you usually need a permit to work in a foreign country.
The majority of foreign nationals working here have work permits.
He has to apply for a permit, and we have to find him a job.
Synonyms: licence, pass, document, certificate More Synonyms of permit
3. verb
If a situation permits something, it makes it possible for that thing to exist, happen, or be done or it provides the opportunity for it.
[formal]
He sets about creating an environment that doesn't just permit experiment, it encouragesit. [VERB noun]
Try to go out for a walk at lunchtime, if the weather permits. [VERB]
This method of cooking also permits heat to penetrate evenly from both sides. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
[Also V + of]
Synonyms: enable, let, allow, cause More Synonyms of permit
4. verb
If you permityourself something, you allow yourself to do something that you do not normally do or that you think you probably should not do.
Captain Bowen permitted himself one cigar a day. [V pron-refl n]
Only once in his life had Douglas permitted himself to lose control of his emotions. [VERB pronoun-reflexive to-infinitive]
5.
See permit me
permit in British English
verb (pəˈmɪt)Word forms: -mits, -mitting or -mitted
1. (transitive)
to grant permission to do something
you are permitted to smoke
2. (transitive)
to consent to or tolerate
she will not permit him to come
3. (whenintr, often foll by of; when tr, often foll by an infinitive)
to allow the possibility (of)
the passage permits of two interpretations
his work permits him to relax nowadays
noun (ˈpɜːmɪt)
4.
an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence
5.
permission, esp written permission
Derived forms
permitter (perˈmitter)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin permittere, from per- through + mittere to send
permit in American English1
(pərˈmɪt; for n. ˈpɜrˌmɪt; pərˈmɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: perˈmitted or perˈmitting
1.
to allow; consent to; tolerate
smoking is not permitted here
2.
to give permission to; authorize
to permit the demonstrators to march in the street
3.
to give opportunity for
to permit light to enter
verb intransitive
4.
to give opportunity or possibility
if the weather permits
noun
5. Rare
permission, esp. in writing
6.
a document granting permission; license; warrant
7.
a printed postal indicia, stamped ticket, etc.
postal permit, parking permit
SIMILAR WORDS: let
Derived forms
permitter (perˈmitter)
noun
Word origin
LME permitten < L permittere < per, through + mittere, to send: see mission
permit in American English2
(ˈpɜrˌmɪt; pərˈmɪt)
US
noun
an Atlantic pompano fish (Trachinotus falcatus) found esp. in the Caribbean
Word origin
altered (infl. by permit1) < Sp palometa, orig. dim. of paloma, dove: see palomino
Examples of 'permit' in a sentence
permit
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Parks not displaying the dogs permitted symbol may accept dogs in specific holiday homes and this will be shown on your confirmation.
The Sun (2017)
The second delivers a special exemption for footballers, making it easier for them to procure work permits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She said that a new permit scheme should allow workers to come for at least nine months and let them return year after year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's not impossible to get work permits and residency but it's expensive and quite a process.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The firm, which charges residents to pressure wash their bins, needed a permit to do so.
The Sun (2017)
The government needs to recognise that when it comes to the allocation of work permits, London is different from other parts of the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Others could apply to the court to be permitted to attend.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The permit allows you to buy or sell your property at will.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Such permits may be expensive or very difficult to obtain.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
The making of certain musical arrangements is also permitted.
Christianity Today (2000)
You do not need a permit if it is not for industrial use.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Keep ankles bare for as long as the weather permits.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The temptations for those awarding permits and licences are enormous.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There were to be no block guarantees and no collective entry permits.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Day permits and club memberships are available in most places.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In return host governments will be expected to be more generous with work permits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to be permitted to humanely trap otters and move them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It also appears to permit the industry to influence the appointments of the chairman and board members of the regulator.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Parks not displaying the dogs permitted symbol may accept dogs in specific holidayhomes and this will be shown on your confirmation.
The Sun (2015)
Under new policies, pupils are usually permitted to wear a single stud in each lobe.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is permitted under licence in Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Should our courts permit the removal of an asylum seeker to that other country for the legal procedures there to address the asylum claim?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The geographical proximity of European countries has permitted fewer channels for terrestrial broadcast services in a single country than elsewhere.
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
Where legally permitted, of course.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Red cards permitting, of course.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Our country can permit itself anything except unforeseen crises with uncertain outcomes,' he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
permit
British English: permit /ˈpɜːmɪt/ NOUN
A permit is an official document allowing you to do something.
...a work permit.
American English: permit
Arabic: تَصْرِيحٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: autorização
Chinese: 通行证
Croatian: propusnica
Czech: povolení písemné
Danish: tilladelse
Dutch: vergunning
European Spanish: permiso documento
Finnish: lupakirja
French: permettre
German: Erlaubnisschein
Greek: άδεια έγκριση
Italian: permesso
Japanese: 許可証
Korean: 허가증
Norwegian: tillatelse
Polish: pozwolenie przepustka
European Portuguese: licença
Romanian: permis
Russian: пропуск
Latin American Spanish: permiso autorización
Swedish: tillstånd
Thai: ใบอนุญาต
Turkish: izin vermek
Ukrainian: дозвіл
Vietnamese: giấy phép
British English: permit VERB
If someone permits something, they allow it to happen.
He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution.
American English: permit
Brazilian Portuguese: permitir
Chinese: 允许
European Spanish: permitir
French: permettre
German: erlauben
Italian: consentire
Japanese: 許す
Korean: 허락하다
European Portuguese: permitir
Latin American Spanish: permitir
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All related terms of 'permit'
permit me
You can use permit me when you are about to say something or to make a suggestion .
exit permit
an official certificate or document granting authorization for a person to leave a country
work permit
a document giving permission to work in a particular country
entry permit
the document containing official permission to enter a country of which you are not a national
building permit
a permit for construction work
entrance permit
a permit issued by the government of a country allowing nationals of other countries to enter
fishing permit
an official document which allows you to fish in a particular area of water
learner's permit
a provisional driving licence
residence permit
permission allowing someone to legally reside in a country
re-entry permit
a permit required to return to certain countries after leaving for an extended period of time