# permitting

/pɝˈmɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /pəmˈɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/permitting
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. allowing

verb · CEFR B1

the act of allowing something to happen or giving permission.

For teachers: the present participle or gerund of 'permit', used to describe the act of granting permission or allowing an action.

- The city is permitting more outdoor seating for restaurants this summer.
- By permitting the construction of the new bypass, the council effectively committed itself to a decade of infrastructure spending.

### 2. if conditions allow

conjunction · CEFR B2 · Formal

you use this to say that a plan will happen if nothing stops it, like bad weather.

For teachers: used in an absolute clause to indicate that a statement is conditional upon a specific factor not being an impediment.

- We will have a picnic in the park tomorrow, weather permitting.
- The expedition aims to reach the summit by Tuesday, conditions permitting, though the forecast suggests a storm is approaching.

Usage: Usually follows the noun it modifies, as in 'weather permitting'.

### 3. the process of giving permission

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

the official process of giving or getting a permit.

For teachers: the formal or administrative process of granting permits or official authorization.

- The permitting for the new factory took over six months to complete.
- Delays in the permitting phase have significantly increased the total cost of the renewable energy project.

## Examples

- We will have a picnic tomorrow, weather permitting.
- The construction crew expects to finish the roof by Friday, weather permitting.
- The legal team intends to file the appeal by the end of the business day, court schedules and administrative processing permitting.

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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.