Meaning & use
permute
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Meanings
verbtransitivemathematicscomputing
To rearrange the order of a set of items in every possible way, or in one chosen way.
Grammar: Takes an object: permute the letters.
Patterns
- permute something
- permute something into something
The program permutes the digits to test every possible code.
If you permute the letters of 'stop', you can get 'pots'.
Researchers permute the order of questions to avoid bias.
verbtransitiverareformal
To change or alter something, especially in order.
Grammar: Rare outside technical writing; the noun permutation is far more common.
The editor permuted the chapters until the story flowed better.
She permuted the seating chart for the third time.
Word forms
| third person singular | permutes |
|---|---|
| past tense | permuted |
| past participle | permuted |
| -ing form | permuting |
Common combinations
- permute the elements
- The function permutes the elements of the list.
- permute the letters
- Anagram software permutes the letters of a word.
- randomly permute
- The test randomly permutes the data.
- permute the order
- We permute the order of the trials.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- permutation noun
- one particular arrangement of items
- permutable adjective
- able to be rearranged
- permuted adjective
- rearranged in a different order
Commonly confused: permute or permit?
permute vs permit
Permit means to allow, and is unrelated to rearranging order.
Practice
If you permute the digits 1, 2 and 3, what do you produce?
Choose one answer.
To permute is to rearrange items into different orders, so 213 and 321 are results. Adding gives a sum, not a permutation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “permute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.