admit

[ ad-mit ]

verb (used with object)

, ad·mit·ted, ad·mit·ting.

1. to allow to enter; grant or afford entrance to:

   to admit a student to college.

   Synonyms: receive

2. to give right or means of entrance to:

   This ticket admits two people.

3. to register (a person) as an inpatient at a hospital:

   After seeing the test results, the emergency room doctor admitted her and put her on intravenous fluids.

4. to permit to exercise a certain function or privilege:

   admitted to the bar.

5. to permit; allow.
6. to allow or concede as valid:

   to admit the force of an argument.

7. to acknowledge; confess:

   He admitted his guilt.

   Synonyms: avow, own

8. to grant in argument; concede:

   The fact is admitted.

9. to have capacity for:

   This passage admits two abreast.

verb (used without object)

, ad·mit·ted, ad·mit·ting.

1. to permit entrance; give access:

   This door admits to the garden.

2. to permit the possibility of something; allow (usually followed by of ):

   The contract admits of no other interpretation.

admit

/ ədˈmɪt /

verb

1. may take a clause as object to confess or acknowledge (a crime, mistake, etc)
2. may take a clause as object to concede (the truth or validity of something)
3. to allow to enter; let in
4. foll by to to allow participation (in) or the right to be part (of)

   to admit to the profession

5. whenintr, foll by of to allow (of); leave room (for)
6. intr to give access

   the door admits onto the lawn

Other Words From

• ad·mit·ta·ble ad·mit·ti·ble adjective
• ad·mit·ter noun
• pre·ad·mit verb (used with object) preadmitted preadmitting
• re·ad·mit verb readmitted readmitting

Word History and Origins

Origin of admit¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Latin admittere, from ad- ad- + mittere “to send, let go”; replacing late Middle English amitte, with a- a- ⁵ instead of ad-, from Middle French amettre, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of admit¹

C14: from Latin admittere to let come or go to, from ad- to + mittere to send

Synonym Study

See acknowledge.

Example Sentences

Whereas Marian remains a soldier who won’t admit the war is over, Dolours, who would marry actor Stephen Rea, becomes more thoughtful and regretful with time, and suffers for it.

From Los Angeles Times

A new recording has emerged of notorious cult leader Charles Manson appearing to admit to additional killings.

From BBC

And even Ratcliffe had to admit, in the report on the battleground-state emails, that the evidence on Iranian involvement was inconclusive.

From Slate

Adults will readily admit watching “Bluey” with their kids, noting how the family dynamics feel real and relatable.

From Los Angeles Times

But on Wednesday, as the court day was getting under way, Mr Sharif unexpectedly said: “I admit what I said in my phone call and my written note. Every single word.”

From BBC

Related Words

• accept
• affirm
• agree
• allow
• approve
• concede
• confirm
• declare
• disclose
• grant
• indicate
• permit
• recognize
• reveal
• talk
• tell