allow

[ uh-lou ]

See synonyms for: allow allowed allowing allows on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to give permission to or for; permit: to allow a student to be absent;No swimming allowed.
to let have; give as one's share; grant as one's right: to allow a person $100 for expenses.

to permit by neglect, oversight, or the like: to allow a door to remain open.
to admit; acknowledge; concede: to allow a claim.
to take into consideration, as by adding or subtracting; set apart: to allow an hour for changing trains.
Older Use. to say; think.
Archaic. to approve; sanction.

verb (used without object)

to permit something to happen or to exist; admit (often followed by of): to spend more than one's budget allows;a premise that allows of only one conclusion.

Idioms about allow

allow for, to make concession or provision for: to allow for breakage.

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

Opposites for allow

1	forbid, prohibit

See antonyms for allow on Thesaurus.com

Other words from allow

pre·al·low, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use allow in a sentence

Its versatile ingredients allow you to use it on most of your body.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold | Sandra Gutierrez G. | November 20, 2020 | Popular-Science
Barrett probably was in the majority that allowed the execution to proceed, although some qualification is needed.
Supreme Court continues capital punishment trend with Barrett on the bench | Robert Barnes | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
Sharp made four appearances for the Marlins and allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 5⅓ innings.
Nationals protect Steven Fuentes, Yasel Antuna and Joan Adon from Rule 5 draft | Jesse Dougherty | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
The Terrapins attempted to return to practice all week, and even limited time on the field could have allowed the Terrapins to play Michigan State as scheduled on Saturday.
Maryland football is ‘committed to getting back,’ but timeline for return is unclear | Emily Giambalvo | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
In 2018, Downing found a loophole on Facebook that allowed third parties to download member lists from closed groups using a Chrome extension.
Why it’s easy to hate Facebook but hard to leave | Heather Kelly | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post

Even then, most of us doubted he would show up and actually sign the papers allowing him to enter the 1992 New Hampshire primary.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion | Jonathan Alter | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
No more allowing people to justify their bigotry by spouting a cherry-picked Bible verse.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen | Parker Molloy | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
And in either case, “the significant benefit from allowing Wi-Fi hotspots outweighs these concerns.”
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security | Kyle Chayka | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Allowing the protests to go on with little interference was always a high-stakes gamble.
De Blasio and the New York City Protesters Have No Blood on Their Hands | Jacob Siegel | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And then the Vatican newspaper: “Pope performs miracle allowing Fidel to walk on water.”
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind | Brin-Jonathan Butler | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The King arrived in Naples bent on maintaining his crown and on allowing no interference from the Emperor.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He continued its sale, however, as a kingly monopoly, allowing only those to engage in it who paid him for the privilege.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
In December, 1781, thirty-eight publicans were fined for allowing "tippling" on Sundays.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The discharge-valve was then opened for a moment, allowing a blast of steam to escape, reducing the pressure say to one-half.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick
Consequently an amendment may be made diminishing the weekly allowance to a member who is sick, and also the time of allowing it.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for allow

allow

/ (əˈlaʊ) /

verb

(tr) to permit (to do something); let
(tr) to set aside: five hours were allowed to do the job

(tr) to let enter or stay: they don't allow dogs
(tr) to acknowledge or concede (a point, claim, etc)
(tr) to let have; grant: he was allowed few visitors
(intr foll by for) to take into account: allow for delays
(intr often foll by of) to permit; admit: a question that allows of only one reply
(tr; may take a clause as object) US dialect to assert; maintain
(tr) archaic to approve; accept

Origin of allow

C14: from Old French alouer, from Late Latin allaudāre to extol, influenced by Medieval Latin allocāre to assign, allocate

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

Browse