What does "admit" mean?
To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration
Admit
/ədˈmɪt/ verb
verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration
- Grammar: admit is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acknowledge, let in, accept, accept.
- Useful contrasts: ban, banishing, bans.
- Usage evidence: You must admit that you are in the wrong.
How to use "admit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "admit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "admit" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "admit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "admit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "admit" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acknowledge" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "admit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration transitive
"to admit a serious thought into the mind"
- 2 declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of wordnet
- 3 To allow (someone) to enter a profession or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise. transitive
"to admit an attorney to practice law"
- 4 admit into a group or community wordnet
- 5 To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny (+ to). intransitive, transitive
"the argument or fact is admitted"
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of wordnet
- 7 To be capable of; to permit. In this sense, "of" may be used after the verb, or may be omitted. transitive
"The words do not admit such a construction."
- 8 allow to enter; grant entry to wordnet
- 9 To give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission. intransitive, with-of
"Circumstances do not admit of this."
- 10 serve as a means of entrance wordnet
- 11 To allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment. transitive
""This shocking report proves once again that we urgently need a radical shake-up of hospital care," said Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society. "Given that people with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and that many leave in worse health than when they were admitted, it is unacceptable that training in dementia care is not the norm.""
- 12 have room for; hold without crowding wordnet
- 13 give access or entrance to wordnet
- 14 afford possibility wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You must admit that you are in the wrong."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "admit"?
Common synonyms include: acknowledge, let in, accept, accept, accepting, accepts.
How do you use "admit" in a sentence?
You must admit that you are in the wrong.
How do you pronounce "admit"?
Pronounced /ədˈmɪt/.
Etymology
From Middle English admitten, amitten, borrowed from Old French admettre, amettre (“to admit”), from Latin admittō (“to allow entrance, inlet”, literally “to send to”), from ad- + mittere (“to send”).