afford

[ uh-fawrd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect:

   The country can't afford another drought.

2. to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of:

   Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.

3. to be able to give or spare:

   He can't afford the loss of a day.

4. to furnish; supply:

   The transaction afforded him a good profit.

5. to be capable of yielding or providing:

   The records afford no explanation.

6. to give or confer upon:

   to afford great pleasure to someone.

afford

/ əˈfɔːd /

verb

1. preceded bycan, could, etc to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences

   we can afford to buy a small house

   I can afford to give you one of my chess sets

   we can't afford to miss this play

2. to give, yield, or supply

   the meeting afforded much useful information

Derived Forms

• afˈfordable, adjective
• afˌfordaˈbility, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of afford¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English aforthen, iforthen, Old English geforthian “to further, accomplish,” equivalent to ge- y- + forth forth + -ian infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of afford¹

Old English geforthian to further, promote, from forth forth ; the Old English prefix ge- was later reduced to a-, and the modern spelling (C16) is influenced by words beginning aff-

Example Sentences

The irony has thinned with the economy, perhaps: Who can really afford just to pretend to DIY today?

From The Daily Beast

His stepfather had left his mother and they could no longer afford the house in which they lived.

From The Daily Beast

As a matter of dollars and cents, America in the short term may be able to afford disability and food stamps.

From The Daily Beast

It represented everything about the kind of comfort and the little luxuries in life that a good glass of Scotch can afford us.

From The Daily Beast

Selling off the extras, I saw my neighbor marvel at the scent and murmur that he wished he could afford one.

From The Daily Beast

I doubt if the modern community can afford to continue it; it certainly cannot afford to extend it very widely.

From Project Gutenberg

Here and there are left a few plants without having their tops broken off, in order that they may afford seeds for another year.

From Project Gutenberg

Our gunners had put more than they could afford into the bombardment and had very little wherewith to pave the way.

From Project Gutenberg

Sensations were not so common in San Bernardino that they could afford to slight so notable an occasion as this.

From Project Gutenberg

In some cases a small stained glass window is set in the side or front, but only rich men can afford this luxury.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grant
• offer
• provide