admit - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
admit Word Meanings
- to allow entry
- to acknowledge the truth
- to confess
admit Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
admit Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ədˈmɪt/
US
/ədˈmɪt/
admit Word Etymology
ad- = to, mittere = send; Latin → Old French → English. Imagine someone letting someone into a space by sending them forward through a door.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place my hand on the door, turn the knob, and push it open just enough to let the room breathe. A friend steps inside and I shift my weight, making space so they can enter without crowding. My voice tightens as I admit the truth I’ve been avoiding, and I feel a small shift in the air as words land. I hold my posture, set my shoulders, and let the moment settle into something lighter.
Real Context
Admit is a versatile verb with several closely related senses. In everyday English it most often means to allow entry, as when a gate opens or a ticket admits you to a concert. It also means to acknowledge the truth of something, as in admitting a mistake or admitting that a fact is true. Finally, it can mean to confess or disclose guilt, especially in a formal or semi-formal context. The intuition behind admit is movement: to admit someone is to send them forward into a space; to admit a statement is to allow it to be accepted as true, even if reluctant. Learners often confuse admit with allow, permit, or confess, and mix the transitive/intransitive uses.
Usage Reminders
- Use admit for entry permission: admit entry into a place. Use admit for acknowledging truth: admit a fact or a mistake. Use confess only for admitting guilt in a personal or formal confession. Distinguish admit from allow/permit in sense of permission. Be careful with phrasal forms: admit to + -ing, admit that + clause. Avoid confusing admit with pretentious synonyms. Remember etymology hints movement toward entry or truth. Prefer admit in present simple or past simple, not future without auxiliary.
Common Misconceptions
- Mistaking admit for permit/allow when the nuance is about entry, not permission in general.
- Thinking admit means always confess; it can mean acknowledge a fact without guilt.
- Confusing admit with admit to as in 'admit to' a crime; sometimes learners misuse 'admit that' vs 'admit to' gerunds.
- Using admit for 'permit entry' in scenes where you actually mean 'allow someone to enter' rather than admitting themselves.
- Overlooking the transitive/intransitive distinction in phrases like admit to doing something.
Thinking Differences
Think in English terms of entry, acknowledgement, and confession as overlapping but distinct concepts. English frequently uses admit in entry, truth, and confession contexts, which leads learners to wrongly swap with confess or permit in mixed situations.
Learning Tips
- Create separate mental bins for admit meanings: entry, truth, and confession.
- Practice with real-life doors: 'admit entry' vs 'admit that' statements.
- Use flashcards for common collocations like admit to doing and admit that.
- Compare with synonyms: allow, permit, confess, acknowledge.
- Watch for subject-verb patterns: 'admit' is often followed by 'entry' or a clause.
- Review etymology as a mnemonic: moving forward into a space or truth.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following scenarios would you use the word 'admit'?
A.Admitting a mistake
B.Making a sandwich
C.Playing with friends
D.Cleaning the house
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following words is most similar to 'admit'?
A.Ignore
B.Refuse
C.Acknowledge
D.Pretend
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'admit'?
A.Confess
B.Reveal
C.Accept
D.Conceal
Step 5: Mastery
When someone admits a mistake, what do you think about their actions?
A.Careless
B.Courageous
C.Cunning
D.Foolish
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
Want to practice more words?
Download LexiTalk app for personalized learning experience
Download App