noun · verb · 24 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɹɪˈmɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ɹiˈmɪt/
General-American:/ɹɪˈmɪt/
rhymes with -ɪt
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɹiːmɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈɹimɪt/
CMU ARPABET:R IY0 M IH1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Terms of reference; set of responsibilities; scope.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Examples
2012, The Economist, Sep 29th 2012 issue, Chile's economic statistics: For richer—or poorer Chile needs to gather together its statisticians into a single agency, such as a new and improved INE, and give it more autonomy and a broader remit.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A communication from a superior court to a subordinate court.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To transmit or send (e.g. money in payment); to supply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To forgive, pardon (a wrong, offence, etc.).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To refrain from exacting or enforcing; to cancel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to remit the performance of an obligation
1798, Hannah Brand, Huniades; or, The Siege of Belgrade, Act V, Scene 8, in Plays and Poems, Norwich, p. 131, I knelt for pardon, for this breach of Oath, Which, thou forgiving, I then shall hope Heaven will remit hereafter punishment;
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To give up; omit; cease doing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
Examples
1761, George Colman, The Genius, No. 12, 19 November, 1761, in Prose on Several Occasions, London: T. Cadel, 1787, p. 124, Among our own sex, there is no race of men more apt to indulge a spirit of acrimony, and to remit their natural Good Humour, than authors.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To allow (something) to slacken, to relax (one's attention etc.).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To show a lessening or abatement (of a specified quality).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Examples
1775, Samuel Jackson Pratt, The Legend of Benignus, Chapter 5, in Liberal Opinions, upon Animals, Man, and Providence, London: G. Robinson and J. Bew, Volume 1, p. 97, At the end of about two months, the severity of my fate began to remit of its rigour.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To diminish, abate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Examples
1720, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 6, “Observations on the Twenty-Second Book,” no. 25, p. 52, ... this is very agreeable to the Nature of Achilles; his Anger abates very slowly; it is stubborn, yet still it remits:
1783, Samuel Johnson, letter to James Boswell dated 30 September, 1783, in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, Volume 2, p. 467, ... I have been for these ten days much harrassed with the gout, but that has now remitted.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To refer (something or someone) for deliberation, judgment, etc. (to a particular body or person).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To send back.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To give or deliver up; surrender; resign.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
verb
Meaning 13
To restore or replace.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
verb
Meaning 14
To postpone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To refer (someone to something), direct someone's attention to something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
Examples
1668, Joseph Glanvill, Plus Ultra, or, The Progress and Advancement of Knowledge since the Days of Aristotle, London: James Collins, Preface, These are the things I thought fit to premise to my Discourse, to which now I remit your Eyes, without adding more ...
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
(law) the act of remitting (especially the referral of a law case to another court)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: remission, remitment
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: referral
17
noun
Meaning 17
the topic that a person, committee, or piece of research is expected to deal with or has authority to deal with
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they set up a group with a remit to suggest ways for strengthening family life
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: topic, subject, issue, matter
18
verb
Meaning 18
diminish or abate
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The pain finally remitted
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
19
verb
Meaning 19
make slack as by lessening tension or firmness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slacken
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: loosen, loose
Narrower terms: douse, dowse
20
verb
Meaning 20
forgive
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
God will remit their sins
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: forgive
21
verb
Meaning 21
refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: remand, send back
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: challenge
22
verb
Meaning 22
release from (claims, debts, or taxes)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The taxes were remitted
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cancel, strike down
23
verb
Meaning 23
send (money) in payment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
remit $25
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pay
24
verb
Meaning 24
hold back to a later time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
let's postpone the exam
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table, shelve, set back, defer, put off
