Permit vs Yield
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Permit
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Yield
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
| Permit | Yield | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈmɪt/","/pəˈmɪts/","/pəˈmɪtɪd/","/pəˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈmɪt/","/pərˈmɪts/","/pərˈmɪtɪd/","/pərˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/jiːld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/jiːld/"]/ |
| Meaning | To allow something to happen. | To give up or let someone else have something. |
| Example | The teacher will permit students to leave early if they finish their exams on time. | a high crop yield |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | legally, generally, normally, refuse to, be designed to, legally, generally, normally, refuse to, be designed to | good, high, low, produce, jump, rise, decline |
| Antonyms | forbid, prohibit, ban | withhold, retain, deny |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'allow' - 'permit' is often more formal., Using 'permit' incorrectly in passive voice without clear subject., Using 'permit' without an object, forgetting what is being permitted. | Confused with 'ield' which is not a word., Used in passive voice incorrectly (e.g., 'was yielded' instead of 'was yielded to')., Mixing up with 'yielding' which refers to being flexible or submissive. |
| Usage notes | Use 'permit' in formal contexts, such as legal or official situations. It's less common in casual conversation, where 'let' might be more appropriate. | Commonly used in both formal and neutral contexts. Often refers to giving way in a discussion, negotiation, or traffic situations. It's less appropriate in casual or slang conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Permit vs Yield
What's the difference between Permit and Yield?
Permit: To allow something to happen. Yield: To give up or let someone else have something.
Which is more advanced: Permit and Yield?
Yield is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Permit and Yield the same CEFR level?
Permit: B2, Yield: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Permit and Yield?
Permit: verb, Yield: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Permit: The teacher will permit students to leave early if they finish their exams on time. Yield: a high crop yield
Can I use Permit and Yield interchangeably?
Not always. Permit and Yield are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.