Word
omit
US/oʊˈmɪt/
UK/əʊmˈɪt/
Definitions
01to leave out
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to not include something, either because you forgot or because you chose not to.
v. to exclude or leave something out, whether by design or through oversight. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“Please check the list to make sure I didn't omit anyone's name.”
“The editor decided to omit the final chapter of the biography, arguing that it added little to the overall narrative arc.”
02to fail to do
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical
v. to fail to do something that you were supposed to do.
v. to neglect or fail to perform a duty or action. Often used in legal or formal contexts regarding obligations.
“The company was fined because they omitted to report their earnings on time.”
“The defendant was found liable because he omitted to provide the necessary safety warnings required by federal regulations.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Pitfall
He omitted to mention about the meeting.
He omitted to mention the meeting.
When 'omit' is followed by an infinitive like 'to mention', the following object does not require a preposition like 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“Use the words “AND,” “OR,” or “NOT” to combine or omit keywords in your search.” Etymology
At least by 1422, from late Middle English omitten, borrowed from Latin omittō (“to let go”), from ob- + mittō (“to send”), but also had the connotations “to fail to perform” and “to neglect”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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