Admit | Definition of admit by Merriam-Webster

Definition of ADMIT

transitive verb

1

a : to allow scope for : permit <admits no possibility of misunderstanding>

b : to concede as true or valid <admitted making a mistake>

2

a : to allow entry (as to a place, fellowship, or privilege) <an open window had admitted rain> <admitted to the club>

b : to accept into a hospital as an inpatient <he was admitted last night for chest pains>

intransitive verb

1

: to give entrance or access

2

a : allow, permit <admits of two interpretations>

b : to make acknowledgment —used with to

See admit defined for English-language learners

See admit defined for kids

Origin of ADMIT

Middle English admitten, from Latin admittere, from ad- + mittere to send

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ADMIT

Synonyms: acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, fess (up), grant, own (up to), come clean (about)

Antonyms: deny

Synonym Discussion of ADMIT

acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination. acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed <acknowledged an earlier peccadillo>. admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications <admitted the project was over budget>. own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself <must own I know little about computers>. avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about <avowed that he was a revolutionary>. confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt <confessed a weakness for sweets>.

Rhymes with ADMIT

a bit, acquit, armpit, backfit, base hit, befit, bowsprit, bushtit, catch it, cesspit, close-knit, cockpit, commit, cool it, culprit, cut it, demit, dimwit, dog it, do it, emit, firelit, fleapit, gaslit, get it, gill slit, godwit, hack it, half-wit, hard-hit, henbit, house-sit, legit, lit crit, make it, mess kit, misfit, mishit, moonlit, mosh pit, nitwit, no-hit, obit, omit, outfit, outwit, owe it, peewit, permit, pinch-hit, Prakrit, press kit, pulpit, refit, remit, rough it, sandpit, Sanskrit, scratch hit, snakebit, snake pit, starlit, stock split, submit, sunlit, switch-hit, tar pit, tidbit, tight-knit, tomtit, to wit, transmit, turnspit, twilit, two-bit, unfit, unknit, warp knit, watch it, weft knit, well-knit

Definition of ADMIT for Kids

1

: to make known usually with some unwillingness <Still, it was galling, this having to admit she was afraid. — Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting>

2

: to allow to enter : let in <No one under 18 is admitted.>

3

: ¹permit 2, allow <This law admits no exceptions.>

Medical Definition of ADMIT

: to accept into a hospital as an inpatient <he was admitted last night for chest pains>

Learn More About ADMIT

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "admit"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "admit"

Nglish: Translation of "admit" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "admit" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: admittancePrevious Word in the Dictionary: Admission DayAll Words Near: admit

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up admit? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site