Permit Meaning
/pɚˈmɪt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
verbTo allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to.
Sentence Examples
You can't enter the building without a permit.
The landlord won't permit him to paint the door red.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The school will ____ students to leave early if they have a doctor's note.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The council refused to ____ the construction of a new building on the protected green space.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 48:
"Last week the decision on two points was conclusive: the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. will not permit ordination of women as ministers, but will permit their election as ruling elders, permission which makes possible a woman as moderator."
— 1930 December 19, “Presbytarians”, in Time:
"He was ultimately cleared, but during that period, Mr. Ackman said, his lawyers would not permit him to defend himself publicly."
— 2009, Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 17 Jan 09, p. 1:
"What was left to say? Quite a lot, if only parliamentary time permitted."
— 2006 December 3, Mary Riddell, “Trident is a Weapon of Mass Destruction”, in The Observer:
"For snackage there's a 1950s-themed diner plus a barbie on the terrace, weather permitting."
— 2009 July 25, John Mitchell, “Clubs Preview”, in The Guardian:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The school will ____ students to leave early if they have a doctor's note.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The council refused to ____ the construction of a new building on the protected green space.