What does assent mean?
Word: Assent
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Assent means agreement or permission, usually from someone in charge, as in 'The principal gave her assent to the trip.' It can also be a verb meaning to agree.
Synonyms: agreement, approval, permission
Antonyms: refusal
Sounds like: ascent (the act of going up a hill or a mountain)
How do you spell assent?
Syllables: as - sent
Tricky part: The middle is a double s. Ascent, a climb, sounds the same but has sc in the middle.
Watch out for: asent, acent
Memory tip: When you give your assent you say 'yes, sir': the s at the end of yes and the s at the start of sir sit side by side, just like the ss in assent.
Assent in a sentence
Example 1: Papa gave his assent with a smile, and we ran to fetch our bicycles.
Example 2: Without the captain's assent, nobody could change the batting order.
Example 3: The trip could go ahead only with the head teacher's assent.
Fun Fact
In the United Kingdom, a bill passed by Parliament becomes a law only after the monarch gives it Royal Assent.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
a, e
a) c_m_nt
b) _ss_nt
c) pr_s_nt
d) s_l_nt
Show answer
b) _ss_nt. Present, cement and silent need other vowels; a then e completes the word for agreement.
Sound Check
Which of the following words does not rhyme with the given word?
assent
a) decent
b) cement
c) prevent
d) event
Show answer
a) decent. Decent is stressed on its first beat and ends in a quick nt, so it does not rhyme.
Word Champ
Which of the words cannot be made using the letters in the given word?
assent
a) test
b) nest
c) seat
d) sent
Show answer
a) test. Test needs two t's, and assent has only one.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) begin : start
b) assent : agreement
c) reply : anser
d) permit : allow
Show answer
c) reply : anser. Each pair means the same thing; answer has a silent w after the s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which person is giving assent?
a) a player who forgets to join the team
b) a coach who drops a player from the team
c) a pupil who asks to join the team
d) a coach who lets a player join the team
Show answer
d) a coach who lets a player join the team
2. Which of these could show assent without any words?
a) turning your back
b) a shake of the head
c) a sigh and a frown
d) a nod of the head
Show answer
d) a nod of the head
