consent
1 of 2verb
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 2noun
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
U.S. Constitution2
: 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Under California law, a parent must consent to their child being vaccinated. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022 Discussions between the company and the Massachusetts senator began in September 2019, when Markey said the company sends suggestive language to push users to consent to disclosing doorbell footage to authorities. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 16 July 2022 Parents would have to consent, and services would be billed to the family’s insurance. Seamus Mcavoy, courant.com, 6 Apr. 2022 Potential adoptees have to consent to being adopted, and the Mendiolas got their wish. Tanzina Vega, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2022 In Alaska, parents don’t need to consent to abortions or be notified that their child or teen is accessing that care. Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 5 July 2022 Social media users are required to consent to terms as a condition of using the platforms. Alexandra S. Levine, Forbes, 17 June 2022 But the project stops short of saying that parents who delay or refuse to consent to medication, despite their children’s wishes, are rejecting them or putting them at risk. New York Times, 15 June 2022 Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 16 Sep. 2022 The show centers on the topics of autism, budding sexuality, consent, parenthood, adolescence, family, and grief. Toby Grey, BGR, 16 Sep. 2022 It’s the perfect example of how enthusiastic consent can increase pleasure in addition to providing safety for all partners involved. Olivia Truffaut-wong, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022 There are others who take issue with this idea, arguing that the law is actually built upon quite ordinary concepts like cause, consent, and best interest. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022 This May, a study by JMIR Mhealth Uhealth examined the 23 most popular women’s mHealth apps and found 61 percent relied on geolocators, while only 52 percent even asked for users’ consent. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 And since at least July 2018, the commission alleged, Facebook’s new-account sign-up page failed to properly disclose how a person’s data can be used, as mandated by local privacy laws, and to obtain user consent. Jiyoung Sohn, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Since 2015, the department had stored crime victims’ DNA samples without their consent or knowledge and even after their cases had been resolved, according to the lawsuit. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 The agency has put some teeth into consent orders, including more prescriptive language so that the agency and its assessors can better oversee compliance. Cat Zakrzewski And Joseph Menn, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
The woman who filed the lawsuit didn’t consent for her DNA to be used for any other purpose when it was stored for more than six years, the lawsuit said. Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Under California law, a parent must consent to their child being vaccinated. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022 Discussions between the company and the Massachusetts senator began in September 2019, when Markey said the company sends suggestive language to push users to consent to disclosing doorbell footage to authorities. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 16 July 2022 Parents would have to consent, and services would be billed to the family’s insurance. Seamus Mcavoy, courant.com, 6 Apr. 2022 Potential adoptees have to consent to being adopted, and the Mendiolas got their wish. Tanzina Vega, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2022 In Alaska, parents don’t need to consent to abortions or be notified that their child or teen is accessing that care. Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 5 July 2022 Social media users are required to consent to terms as a condition of using the platforms. Alexandra S. Levine, Forbes, 17 June 2022 But the project stops short of saying that parents who delay or refuse to consent to medication, despite their children’s wishes, are rejecting them or putting them at risk. New York Times, 15 June 2022 Noun
The lawsuit, filed in 2016, alleges Google Photos' Face Grouping tool violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting and storing details about people's faces without proper notice and consent. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 16 Sep. 2022 The show centers on the topics of autism, budding sexuality, consent, parenthood, adolescence, family, and grief. Toby Grey, BGR, 16 Sep. 2022 It’s the perfect example of how enthusiastic consent can increase pleasure in addition to providing safety for all partners involved. Olivia Truffaut-wong, refinery29.com, 15 Sep. 2022 There are others who take issue with this idea, arguing that the law is actually built upon quite ordinary concepts like cause, consent, and best interest. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022 This May, a study by JMIR Mhealth Uhealth examined the 23 most popular women’s mHealth apps and found 61 percent relied on geolocators, while only 52 percent even asked for users’ consent. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 And since at least July 2018, the commission alleged, Facebook’s new-account sign-up page failed to properly disclose how a person’s data can be used, as mandated by local privacy laws, and to obtain user consent. Jiyoung Sohn, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Since 2015, the department had stored crime victims’ DNA samples without their consent or knowledge and even after their cases had been resolved, according to the lawsuit. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 The agency has put some teeth into consent orders, including more prescriptive language so that the agency and its assessors can better oversee compliance. Cat Zakrzewski And Joseph Menn, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French consentir, from Latin consentire, from com- + sentire to feel — more at sense
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
Kids Definition
consent 1 of 2
verb
con·sent kən-ˈsent
consented; consenting
: to express willingness or approval : agree
The mayor consented to speak at our banquet.
consent
2 of 2noun
: approval of or agreement with what is done or suggested by another person
You must have a parent's consent to go on the trip.
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
U.S. Constitution art. IIa contract is formed by the consent of the parties Louisiana Civil Code
Louisiana Civil Code specifically : voluntary agreement by a people to organize a civil society and give authority to a government
consent 1 of 2
noun
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something we had to get our neighbor's consent in order to trim the tree from his side Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- permission
- authorization
- granting
- sanction
- warrant
- license
- signature
- permit
- clearance
- leave
- licence
- allowance
- concurrence
- accreditation
- green light
- assent
- sufferance
- acceptance
- certification
- acquiescence
- agreement
- grant
- seal
- liberty
- stamp
- pass
- toleration
- imprimatur
- tolerance
- patent
- concession
- okay
- accord
- OK
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refusal
- prohibition
- revocation
- denial
- rejection
- injunction
- veto
- exclusion
- proscription
- suppression
- interdiction
- repression
- taboo
- ban
- deterrence
- embargo
- tabu
- discouragement
consent
2 of 2verb
as in to assent
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) refused to consent to the marriage Synonyms & Similar Words
- assent
- agree
- acquiesce
- accede
- submit
- subscribe
- come round
- succumb
- adopt
- abide
- tolerate
- stand
- embrace
- suffer
- endure
- yield
- bow
- stomach
- espouse
- relent
- swallow
- take
- bear (with)
- knuckle under
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refuse
- dissent
- reject
- deny
- scorn
- spurn
- rebuff
- gainsay
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of consent are accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, and subscribe. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.
consented to their daughter's going
In some situations, the words accede and consent are roughly equivalent. However, accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.
officials acceded to the prisoners' demands
The words acquiesce and consent can be used in similar contexts, but acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.
acquiesced to his boss's wishes
While the synonyms agree and consent are close in meaning, agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.
finally agreed to come along
The synonyms assent and consent are sometimes interchangeable, but assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.
voters assented to the proposal
The words subscribe and consent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.
subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea