I. per ‧ mit 1 W3 /pəˈmɪt $ pər-/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle permitted , present participle permitting ) formal
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ permission , ↑ permit , ↑ permissiveness ; adjective : ↑ permissible ≠ ↑ impermissible , ↑ permissive ; verb : ↑ permit ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: permittere 'to let through, allow' ]
1 . [transitive] to allow something to happen, especially by an official decision, rule, or law:
Smoking is only permitted in the public lounge.
permit somebody to do something
As a punishment, she was not permitted to attend any school activities.
permit something in/near etc something
Dogs are not permitted inside the shop.
permit somebody something
The bill would permit workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family emergencies.
He had more than the permitted level of alcohol in his blood.
REGISTER
Permit is a formal word, which is used especially about someone being officially allowed to do something. In everyday situations, people usually say let somebody do something or allow somebody to do something :
▪
His parents won’t let him watch TV after ten o'clock.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to make it possible for something to happen:
The large windows permit a clear view of the lake.
permit somebody to do something
The moon permitted me to see a little way into the distance.
I’ll see you after the meeting, if time permits (=if it finishes early enough) .
We’ll have a picnic at the beach, weather permitting (=if the weather is good enough) .
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THESAURUS
▪ allow to say that someone can do something – used about parents, teachers, or people in authority:
They don’t allow students to chew gum in the classroom.
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I’m not allowed to stay out after ten o'clock.
▪ let [not in passive] to allow someone to do something. Let is not used in the passive, and is much more commonly used in everyday English than allow :
Will your Mum let you come to the party?
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I’ll borrow John’s bicycle, if he’ll let me.
▪ permit formal if something is permitted, it is allowed according to the rules - used especially on written notices and announcements:
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
▪ give somebody permission used when someone in an important official position decides to allow someone to do something:
He was given special permission to leave school early.
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The Home Office has given him permission to stay in Britain indefinitely.
▪ give your consent to say that you will allow someone to do something that will affect you personally, or a member of your family, when you have a legal right to say ‘no’:
Her parents have given their consent to the marriage.
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You can’t build on someone’s land without the owner’s consent.
▪ give something the go-ahead to officially allow a planned project or activity to happen:
The government finally gave the go-ahead for a new terminal at Heathrow airport.
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A new nuclear plant has been given the go-ahead.
▪ authorize to officially or legally allow someone to do something - used about laws or people:
The UN resolution would authorize the use of force.
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I never authorized them to give information about me to other banks.
▪ entitle to give someone the right to do or have something:
The pass entitles you to travel on any bus, at any time, in Norwich.
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If the goods are faulty, the customer is entitled to a refund.
▪ sanction formal to give official approval and support for something:
The Truman administration refused to sanction a military attack.
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The advertisements were sanctioned by the candidate himself.
II. per ‧ mit 2 /ˈpɜːrmɪt $ ˈpɜːr-, pərˈmɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ permission , ↑ permit , ↑ permissiveness ; adjective : ↑ permissible ≠ ↑ impermissible , ↑ permissive ; verb : ↑ permit ]
an official written statement giving you the right to do something
permit for
A permit is required for fishing in the canal.
travel/parking/export etc permit
Hikers need a camping permit for overnight stays in the park.
⇨ ↑ work permit
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a permit
Do you have a resident's parking permit?
▪ need/require a permit
EU citizens no longer need a permit to work in the UK.
▪ get a permit
You have to get a special permit in order to visit the Saiq plateau.
▪ issue a permit
Up to ten fishing permits are issued each day.
▪ obtain a permit (=more formal than 'get')
Hunters are required to obtain a permit.
▪ apply for a permit
Farmers must apply for permits to use the new chemicals.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + permit
▪ a work permit
She had problems getting a work permit for the States.
▪ a parking permit
You’ll need to apply for a residential parking permit.
▪ a travel permit
Palestinians have to obtain a travel permit for travel between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
▪ a residence permit ( also residency permit especially American English ) (=one that allows you to live in a country)
Residence permits will be limited to five years.
▪ an export permit
An export permit is required for the export of this timber.
▪ a gun permit
More than 300,000 civilians, in a country of 6 million, have gun permits.
▪ a fishing permit
To fish you’ll need a rod licence and a fishing permit.