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admit

v.
US //ədˈmɪt// UK //ɐdmˈɪt// ad·mit
  1. 1 to confess or agree (v.)
    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.

    Example

    At first he said he was innocent, but finally he admitted that he had made a mistake.

    Example

    The CEO was forced to admit that the company had significantly underperformed during the final quarter of the fiscal year.

    Usage

    Often followed by a 'that' clause or a gerund (-ing form).
    Pitfall
    He admitted to steal the money.
    He admitted to stealing the money.

    After 'admit to', use the -ing form of the verb, not the infinitive.

  2. 2 to allow entry (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to let someone enter a building, a room, or a private place.

    to permit physical entrance to a specific location or facility.

    Example

    The security guard refused to admit anyone who did not have a valid ID card.

    Example

    The museum gallery is designed to admit only fifty visitors at a time to ensure the preservation of the delicate frescoes.

    Usage

    Usually transitive, taking a direct object for the person being allowed in.
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  1. 3 hospital or school (v.)
    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.

    Example

    My grandfather was admitted to the hospital last night for some heart tests.

    Example

    The university only admits ten percent of applicants to its prestigious doctoral programme each year.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice in medical contexts.
  2. 4 to permit or allow for (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    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'.

    Example

    The rules are very clear and do not admit of any other meaning.

    Example

    The evidence presented by the prosecution was so overwhelming that it did not admit of any alternative explanation.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'admit of'.
Origin

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”).

Word family

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