Explanation at your level:
When you ask for something and someone says 'yes,' they grant it. It is like giving a gift or saying yes to a request. You can grant a friend a favor.
Use grant when you talk about rules. For example, a teacher might grant you extra time for a test. It means they allow you to do it.
In B1 English, we use grant for formal situations. You might grant someone permission to enter a room. We also use it to admit a fact: 'I grant that it is difficult, but we must try.'
At this level, you will see grant used in business and law. Companies grant licenses, and governments grant funding for research. It implies a formal, legal, or official agreement.
Advanced learners use grant to show nuance in argumentation. Saying 'I grant that...' is a polite way to concede part of an opponent's argument. It shows you are listening and thinking critically.
At the mastery level, grant carries historical weight. It relates to the concept of 'bestowing' or 'conferring.' You might see it in literature to describe a monarch bestowing a title or a divine power granting a boon. It is a word of authority.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Grant means to give something officially.
- It is often used for permission or money.
- It also means to admit a point in a debate.
- It is a formal word.
When you grant something, you are essentially saying 'yes' to a request in an official or formal way. Imagine you ask your boss for a day off; if they agree, they grant your request. It is more than just a casual 'sure'—it implies authority and often a formal process.
Beyond giving permission, grant is also used in arguments. If you are debating and you say, 'I grant that your point is valid,' you are admitting that the other person has a fair point, even if you still disagree with their overall conclusion. It is a very useful word for showing you are a fair thinker.
The word grant has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Old French word granter, which meant 'to promise' or 'to guarantee.' This itself traces back to the Latin word credere, which means 'to believe' or 'to trust.'
Historically, it was used in legal and royal contexts. A king would grant land to a nobleman, or a government would grant a charter to a city. Over centuries, the meaning softened from a powerful royal decree to the everyday way we describe giving permission or accepting a fact in conversation.
You will hear grant most often in professional or formal settings. You grant permission, grant access, or grant a request. It sounds much more official than 'give' or 'let.'
In a debate, you might hear 'I grant you that...' which is a sophisticated way to concede a point. Using this word correctly helps you sound more precise and intellectually honest in your English communication.
1. Take for granted: To fail to appreciate someone or something because you are used to them. Example: Don't take your health for granted.
2. Grant a wish: To make a wish come true, often used in fairy tales. Example: The genie granted her three wishes.
3. Grant someone a hearing: To give someone the opportunity to explain their side. Example: The judge decided to grant the defendant a hearing.
4. Grant asylum: To allow someone to stay in a country because they are in danger at home. Example: The country granted asylum to the refugees.
5. Grant access: To allow someone to enter or use something. Example: The security guard granted access to the building.
As a verb, grant is regular, meaning its past tense is granted. It is often followed by an indirect object, such as 'The school granted him a scholarship.'
The pronunciation is /ɡrænt/ in both US and UK English, though the vowel sound can vary slightly. It rhymes with pant, slant, and ant. Remember to pronounce the 't' clearly at the end!
Fun Fact
Related to the word 'creed'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'a' sound.
Short 'a' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 't' too softly
- Confusion with 'grand'
- Vowel length
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in formal texts.
Useful for formal writing.
Good for debates.
Common in news.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
He was granted.
Indirect Objects
Grant me it.
Formal Register
Using grant vs give.
Examples by Level
The teacher will grant the request.
teacher = person who teaches
verb + object
Can you grant me this?
grant = give
modal verb
They granted the money.
granted = past tense
past tense
I grant you that.
grant = agree
idiomatic usage
She granted permission.
permission = yes
verb + noun
The bank granted a loan.
loan = money to borrow
business context
He was granted a visa.
visa = travel paper
passive voice
They granted his wish.
wish = hope
simple past
The city granted the permit.
He granted them access.
Did they grant your request?
She was granted a scholarship.
They granted the interview.
The court granted the appeal.
We were granted extra time.
They granted him the right to vote.
I grant that you are right.
The government granted funding.
They granted the request immediately.
She granted him a favor.
The company granted a bonus.
He was granted a pardon.
They granted the license.
The manager granted the extension.
I grant you that point.
The state granted the charter.
They granted him full authority.
She was granted an audience.
The board granted the request.
They granted the patent.
He was granted asylum.
The committee granted approval.
I grant that the situation is complex.
The university granted him tenure.
They granted the petition.
She was granted a reprieve.
The crown granted the title.
They granted the motion.
He was granted the privilege.
The council granted the charter.
The monarch granted the land.
He was granted a boon.
They granted the request with reluctance.
She granted him his freedom.
The decree granted new rights.
They granted the request in full.
He was granted a reprieve from duty.
The law granted them immunity.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"take for granted"
to not appreciate something
He took his job for granted.
neutral"grant a wish"
to make a wish happen
The genie granted his wish.
neutral"grant someone a hearing"
to listen to someone
The judge granted a hearing.
formal"grant someone the benefit of the doubt"
to trust someone
I will grant you the benefit of the doubt.
neutral"granted"
admitting something is true
Granted, it was a long day.
neutral"grant a reprieve"
to delay a punishment
The prisoner was granted a reprieve.
formalEasily Confused
similar sound
guarantee is a promise, grant is a gift/permission
I guarantee it. He granted the request.
similar spelling
grand is an adjective
A grand party. He granted the wish.
similar meaning
give is casual, grant is formal
Give me the pen. Grant me the right.
similar meaning in debate
admit is to confess, grant is to accept
I admit I lied. I grant that you are right.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + grant + indirect object + direct object
He granted me the wish.
Subject + grant + direct object + to + indirect object
He granted the wish to me.
Passive: Subject + be + granted + direct object
I was granted the request.
I grant that...
I grant that you are correct.
Take for granted
I took it for granted.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Grant implies authority.
Different meanings.
Grant takes an indirect object.
Noun form is 'grant' (money).
Standard spelling.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a king giving a gold coin.
Native Usage
Use it for requests.
Cultural Insight
Grants are common in science.
Grammar Shortcut
Grant + indirect object.
Say It Right
Clear T at the end.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for casual gifts.
Did You Know?
It comes from 'believe'.
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence.
Writing Tip
Use it in essays.
Speaking Tip
Use it in debates.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Grant a wish to an ANT.
Visual Association
A king handing a scroll to a person.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'granted' in a sentence today.
Word Origin
Old French
Original meaning: to promise
Cultural Context
None.
Common in academic and government settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- grant permission
- grant access
- grant a raise
school
- grant a scholarship
- grant extra time
- grant a degree
law
- grant asylum
- grant a pardon
- grant a license
debate
- I grant that
- granted
- grant the point
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever been granted a wish?"
"What is something you take for granted?"
"Do you think governments should grant more funding?"
"Is it hard to grant someone's request?"
"When was the last time you granted someone a favor?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you were granted permission for something.
List three things you take for granted.
Describe a situation where you had to grant a point in an argument.
If you could be granted one wish, what would it be?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it is primarily a verb.
It is better for formal requests.
Granted.
Yes, usually.
No, you grant something to a person.
It is more formal.
A grant (money).
/ɡrænt/.
Test Yourself
The bank will ___ him a loan.
Grant is the correct verb for money.
What does 'grant' mean?
Grant means to give.
You can grant a request.
This is a common collocation.
Word
Meaning
These are synonyms.
Passive voice structure.
I ___ that you are right.
Used for conceding a point.
Which is an idiom?
Take for granted is a common idiom.
Grant is always informal.
Grant is usually formal.
Word
Meaning
Synonym matching.
Passive voice.
Score: /10
Summary
To grant is to formally give or admit, reflecting authority and precision in your language.
- Grant means to give something officially.
- It is often used for permission or money.
- It also means to admit a point in a debate.
- It is a formal word.
Memory Palace
Imagine a king giving a gold coin.
Native Usage
Use it for requests.
Cultural Insight
Grants are common in science.
Grammar Shortcut
Grant + indirect object.
Example
My parents finally granted me permission to stay out late for the graduation party.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
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abfinor
C1A formal term denoting the absolute and final settlement of a legal dispute or the conclusive discharge of a financial obligation. It signifies the definitive point at which all parties are released from further claims or responsibilities regarding a specific matter.
abfortious
C1To abfortious is to strengthen a logical argument or a formal claim by providing additional, even more compelling evidence. It describes the process of reinforcing a conclusion so that it follows with even greater certainty than initially established.
abide
C1To accept or act in accordance with a rule, decision, or recommendation. It can also mean to tolerate or endure a person or situation, typically used in negative constructions.
abjugcy
C1The state or act of being unyoked or released from a bond, burden, or state of servitude. It describes a liberation from metaphorical yokes such as oppressive systems, heavy responsibilities, or restrictive contracts.
abolished
B2To formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution, especially one that has been in existence for a long time. The act of abolishing something is a decisive and official termination, often done by law or through an executive order.
abrogate
C1To formally repeal, abolish, or do away with a law, right, or formal agreement. It typically refers to an authoritative or official action taken to end the validity of a legal or political document.
abscond
C1To depart suddenly and secretly, often to avoid detection or arrest for an unlawful action. It is typically used when someone leaves a place with something they are not supposed to have, such as stolen money or information.
absolve
C1To formally declare someone free from guilt, obligation, or punishment, especially after a legal proceeding or a religious confession. It suggests a complete release from the consequences or blame associated with an action.
accomplice
C1An accomplice is a person who helps someone else commit a crime or a dishonest act. This individual is legally or morally responsible for their involvement, even if they were not the primary person performing the act.
accord
C1A formal agreement or treaty between parties, or a state of harmony and consistency between different things. As a verb, it means to grant someone power or status, or to be consistent with a particular fact or rule.
