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permit

Transitive Verb[C] Countable
pl: permitspast: permittedpp: permitteding: permittingcomp: nullsup: null

The verb carries a sense of authority and boundary-setting. It is frequently used in legal, administrative, or formal contexts where a higher power grants permission. It suggests a binary state of allowed versus forbidden, often tied to rules or regulations. As a noun, the word shifts from the act of allowing to the physical evidence of that allowance. It evokes the image of a stamped paper, a plastic card, or a digital token that serves as a key to a restricted activity or area.

Countable when referring to the physical document or license, such as a building permit or a work permit.

Meanings

Transitive Verb
[someone][doing]

To give official authorization or consent for something to happen.

"The city does not permit smoking in public parks."

Transitive Verb
[something][doing]

To make it possible for something to occur or exist.

"The new software permits users to edit videos in real time."

Noun
[someone][something]

An official document giving someone authorization to do something.

"You need a parking permit to leave your car here."

Last Updated: May 27, 2026Report an Error