Word
assent
Phoneticsas·sent, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈsɛnt/
UK/ɐsˈɛnt/
In Japanese
consent; assent; approval
approval; assent
consent; assent; understanding
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01official agreement
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. official or formal agreement to a suggestion, plan, or request.
n. the expression of approval or agreement, particularly after thoughtful consideration or by an official authority.
“The director gave her assent to the new project after reading the final report.”
“The proposal cannot proceed to the implementation phase until it receives the formal assent of the board of governors.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
Teaching tip
In legal contexts like the UK parliament, 'Royal Assent' is the specific term for a monarch's formal approval of a bill.
Antonyms
02to agree formally
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to agree to a suggestion or a plan after thinking about it.
v. to express agreement or to yield to a proposal; functions as an intransitive verb.
“The committee members nodded to show they assented to the changes.”
“Although he had initial reservations, the minister eventually assented to the terms of the treaty to avoid further diplomatic tension.”
Usage
This verb is intransitive and is almost always followed by the preposition 'to'.
Teaching tip
This is much more formal than 'agree' and is rarely used in casual conversation.
03transfer of property
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. a legal document used to pass ownership of a house or land to a person named in a will.
n. a legal instrument by which an executor conveys real estate to a beneficiary under the terms of a will.
“The lawyer prepared the formal assent to transfer the house to the son.”
“The executor signed the assent, effectively vesting the legal title of the estate in the deceased's primary heir.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun in property law.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized legal sense that students will only encounter in probate or property law contexts.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“If it passes the House of Commons, rarely invoked powers could be used , meaning it would not need the assent of the Lords to become law this time.” “On each count, the evidence fails to compel assent.” Etymology
From Middle English assent (noun) and assenten (verb), from Old French assent (noun) and assentir (verb), from Latin assentiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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