allow

American  

[uh-lou] / əˈlaʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to give permission to or for; permit.

   to allow a student to be absent;

   No swimming allowed.

   Antonyms:

   prohibit, forbid

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.

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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.

idioms

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

   to allow for breakage.

allow British  

/ əˈlaʊ /

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

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Usage

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

Other Word Forms

• preallow
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of allow

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 allocāre; see al-, locus; the older sense “approve, sanction” and Middle English sense “praise” probably by taking the Anglo-French verb as representing Medieval Latin, Latin adlaudāre “to praise”; see ad-, laud

Explanation

If you allow your best friend to read your diary, it means you've given him permission to do it. The verb allow means to let someone do something. You can allow casually, like when you allow your friend to bite off a few pieces from your candy necklace, or more officially, as when a city government decides to allow dogs to be brought into restaurants. Allow can also be used to mean "admit the truth of," so you could say, "Fine, I'll allow that dogs aren't any dirtier than many people, but it's still strange seeing them in restaurants."

Example Sentences

Allow me to add a few observations that transform the story from merely damning to genuinely absurd.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

Allow me to add one more note in defense of Mr. McMillon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

"Allow the government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardise the institution's ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions."

From BBC • May 31, 2025

Allow choreographed touchdown/turnover celebrations, speed up pace of play, move back PAT kicks…

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2025

“Good afternoon, Pernilla. It was very kind of you to invite us. Allow me to present my daughter, Matilda.”

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• approve
• authorize
• favor
• oblige
• recognize
• release
• support
• tolerate