# consent

/kənˈsɛnt/ (US) · /kənsˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. permission or agreement

noun · CEFR B2

permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

For teachers: voluntary agreement or permission given by one person to another. Uncountable in its general sense but often countable in legal or medical contexts.

- You must get your parents' consent before you go on the school trip.
- The patient provided written consent for the surgical procedure after the doctor explained the potential risks and benefits involved.

### 2. to agree or give permission

verb · CEFR B2

to agree to do something or to allow something to happen.

For teachers: to express willingness or give permission. Intransitive, typically followed by the preposition 'to'.

- The director finally consented to the changes in the script.
- After several weeks of intense negotiation, the board of directors consented to the merger under the condition that no staff would be made redundant.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'to' followed by a noun or an infinitive.

### 3. general agreement

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

when everyone in a group agrees about something.

For teachers: unity or agreement of opinion, sentiment, or inclination within a group.

- By common consent, she was the best person for the job.
- The policy was adopted by general consent, reflecting a rare moment of total alignment between the competing political factions.

## Examples

- You must give your written consent before the surgery begins.
- The researcher explained the risks clearly to ensure the participants could provide informed consent.
- Ethical guidelines in modern medicine dictate that patient consent must be obtained without coercion and with a full understanding of potential complications.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.