admit
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy or embarrassed about it.
to concede or acknowledge the truth of a statement or the reality of a situation, often reluctantly.
Simple“At first he said he was innocent, but finally he admitted that he had made a mistake.”
In context“The CEO was forced to admit that the company had significantly underperformed during the final quarter of the fiscal year.”
UsageOften followed by a 'that' clause or a gerund (-ing form).
PitfallHe admitted to steal the money. He admitted to stealing the money.After 'admit to', use the -ing form of the verb, not the infinitive.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
to let someone enter a building, a room, or a private place.
to permit physical entrance to a specific location or facility.
Simple“The security guard refused to admit anyone who did not have a valid ID card.”
In context“The museum gallery is designed to admit only fifty visitors at a time to ensure the preservation of the delicate frescoes.”
UsageUsually transitive, taking a direct object for the person being allowed in.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to officially accept someone into a hospital for care or into a school as a student.
to formally accept an individual into an institution, such as a hospital for medical treatment or a university for study.
Simple“My grandfather was admitted to the hospital last night for some heart tests.”
In context“The university only admits ten percent of applicants to its prestigious doctoral programme each year.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice in medical contexts.
- 04 C1 Advanced
to make something possible or to have space for different ideas.
to be capable of or to permit a particular interpretation or action; often used with 'of'.
Simple“The rules are very clear and do not admit of any other meaning.”
In context“The evidence presented by the prosecution was so overwhelming that it did not admit of any alternative explanation.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'admit of'.
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.