51Թ

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View synonyms for

allow

[uh-lou]

verb (used with object)

  1. to give permission to or for; permit.

    to allow a student to be absent;

    No swimming allowed.

    Antonyms: ,
  2. to let have; give as one's share; grant as one's right.

    to allow a person $100 for expenses.

  3. to permit by neglect, oversight, or the like.

    to allow a door to remain open.

  4. to admit; acknowledge; concede.

    to allow a claim.

  5. to take into consideration, as by adding or subtracting; set apart.

    to allow an hour for changing trains.

  6. Older Use.to say; think.

  7. Archaic.to approve; sanction.



verb (used without object)

  1. to permit something to happen or to exist; admit (often followed byof ): a premise that allows of only one conclusion.

    to spend more than one's budget allows;

    a premise that allows of only one conclusion.

allow

/ əˈʊ /

verb

  1. (tr) to permit (to do something); let

  2. (tr) to set aside

    five hours were allowed to do the job

  3. (tr) to let enter or stay

    they don't allow dogs

  4. (tr) to acknowledge or concede (a point, claim, etc)

  5. (tr) to let have; grant

    he was allowed few visitors

  6. to take into account

    allow for delays

  7. to permit; admit

    a question that allows of only one reply

  8. dialect(tr; may take a clause as object) to assert; maintain

  9. archaic(tr) to approve; accept

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • preallow verb (used with object)
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of allow1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English alowen, from Anglo-French al(l)o(u)er “to place, allot, allow,” Old French aloer “to place,” from Late Latin dz; al-, locus; the older sense “approve, sanction” and Middle English sense “praise” probably by taking the Anglo-French verb as representing Medieval Latin, Latin ܻ “to praise”; ad-, laud
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of allow1

C14: from Old French alouer, from Late Latin ܻ to extol, influenced by Medieval Latin dz to assign, allocate
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. allow for, to make concession or provision for.

    to allow for breakage.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Oates seems to posit that we allow whatever entertains, and we return to whatever has entertained before.

From

Money isn’t a problem, if statements on the event’s website are believed: “We are backed by some of the world’s most successful venture capitalists, allowing us to operate independently without government and taxpayer funding.”

From

Second, it creates counter-narratives that allow potential killers a rationale that they are acting in "self-defense."

From

But a spokesperson for the Lungu family confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the government that allowed for Hichilema to preside over a state funeral next Sunday.

From

Saracens are requiring cover for the injured Alex Lozowski and are allowed dispensation in the salary cap to replace him in their squad for next season.

From

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When To Use

What are other ways to sayallow?

To allow something is to give permission for it. How is allow different from permit and let? Learn more on Thesaurus.com. 

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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