consent
kuhn-SEHNT
Consent (verb) means to agree to something or give permission for it. Example: “She consented to the operation after speaking with the surgeon.”
verb
1
To agree to something or give permission for it.
"She consented to the operation after speaking with the surgeon."
"He wouldn't consent to the changes without seeing them in writing."
"After some thought, the owners consented to a smaller discount."
noun
1
Permission or voluntary agreement to something.
"The form requires the patient's written consent."
"You must have your parents' consent before joining the school trip."
"He took the bike without the owner's consent and brought it back."
How to use consent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiving your permission or agreement, usually to something that affects you.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
give consent
informed consent
without consent
age of consent
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Word forms
- Plural
- consents
- Third person singular
- consents
- Past tense
- consented
- Archaic forms
- consentest, consentedst, consenteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ to the operation after speaking with the surgeon.
Etymology
From Old French consentir, from Latin consentire, "to agree" — com- ("with") plus sentire ("to feel").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “consent” mean?
The word “consent” means to agree to something or give permission for it. In plain terms, giving your permission or agreement, usually to something that affects you.
How do you pronounce “consent”?
“Consent” is pronounced kuhn-SEHNT (/kənˈsɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “consent” in a sentence?
Here is “consent” used in a sentence: “She consented to the operation after speaking with the surgeon.”
What part of speech is “consent”?
Depending on how it is used, “consent” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “consent” come from?
The word “consent” comes from Latin. From Old French consentir, from Latin consentire, "to agree" — com- ("with") plus sentire ("to feel").
Is “consent” a common word?
“Consent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “consent” have?
“Consent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to agree to something or give permission for it.
What is the difference between consent and assent?
Both involve agreeing, but "consent" implies giving permission for something that affects you and often carries formal or legal weight, as in "consent to treatment." "Assent" is agreement with an opinion, plan, or proposal and is more about expressing approval than granting permission.
Do you consent "to" or "for" something?
The standard preposition after the verb is "to": you consent to a search, consent to treatment, or consent to the terms. "For" appears mainly with the noun in phrases like "a consent form for the procedure."
What is the difference between consent and permission?
"Permission" is granted by someone in authority allowing another person to do something, while "consent" is voluntary agreement to something that involves or affects you. A teacher gives permission to leave the room; a patient gives consent to an operation.
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