grant

The word “grant” means to give someone permission, a right, or something they have asked for. In plain terms, to formally give or allow something, or, as a noun, money awarded for a specific purpose.

“Grant” is pronounced grahnt (/ɡɹænt/ in IPA).

Here is “grant” used in a sentence: “The landlord granted permission to sublet the flat.”

Depending on how it is used, “grant” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “grant” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman granter, ultimately tracing back to Latin credere, "to believe" or "trust" — the same root as "credit" and "guarantee.".

“Grant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Grant” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give someone permission, a right, or something they have asked for.

Give is the general word for handing something over. Grant is more formal and specific: to give something requested, or to bestow permission, a right, or a favour, usually by someone with the authority to do so. You grant access, grant a wish, or grant a request.

Allow means to permit something to happen, often passively — not standing in the way. Grant is more active and formal: an authority deliberately gives permission, a right, or a request. A landlord might allow pets but grant a tenant permission to sublet through a signed agreement.

You grant permission when you give someone the right to do something, grant a request when you agree to what they asked, and grant access when you let them in. Courts grant bail, rulers granted land, and the phrase to take for granted stretches the word figuratively.

It means to assume something is true or always available without appreciating it or checking. Someone who takes a friend for granted fails to value them; taking clean water for granted means assuming it will always be there. The phrase uses grant in the sense of something given.