ally
verb (used with object)
to unite formally, as by treaty, league, marriage, or the like (usually followed by with orto ).
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ally
1 American
[uh-lahy, al-ahy, uh-lahy]
/ əˈlaɪ, ˈæl aɪ, əˈlaɪ /
verb (used with object)
-
allies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
allied,
past participle, past
-
allying
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
allies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
allied,
past participle, past
-
allying
present participle
noun
-
allies
plural
-
a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose.
Canada and the United States were allies in World War II.
- Synonyms:
- confederate, partner
-
Biology. a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionary relationship to another, often as a member of the same family.
The squash is an ally of the watermelon.
-
a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.
-
a person who advocates for or supports a marginalized or politicized group but is not a member of the group: As a man, how can I be a good ally to women in the struggle for gender equality?
Straight allies speak up for the LGBTQ community.
As a man, how can I be a good ally to women in the struggle for gender equality?
-ally
2
American
ally
British
verb
-
to unite or be united, esp formally, as by treaty, confederation, or marriage
-
(tr; usually passive) to connect or be related, as through being similar or compatible
noun
-
a country, person, or group allied with another
-
a plant, animal, substance, etc, closely related to another in characteristics or form
Usage
What else does ally mean? An ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people. A straight ally, more specifically, is an individual outside of the LGBTQ community that supports their fight for equality and rights.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
allysimple
-
alliessimple
-
have alliedperfect
-
has alliedperfect
-
am allyingprogressive
-
are allyingprogressive
-
is allyingprogressive
-
have been allyingperfect progressive
-
has been allyingperfect progressive
Past
-
alliedsimple
-
had alliedperfect
-
was allyingprogressive
-
were allyingprogressive
-
had been allyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ally1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English alien, from Anglo-French alal(l)ierier, aillaier, Old French alier, from Latin alligāre “to bind to”; see alloy
Origin of -ally2
Explanation
If you have an ally, you have someone who is on your side, like a more experienced teammate who is your ally in convincing the coach to give you more playing time. Ally comes from the Latin word alligare, meaning "to bind to," like nations who are allies in wartime — they will act together, and protect one another. You can also use ally as a verb, meaning "join forces with." For example, you might ally yourself with influential people to advance your career. As a noun, pronounce ally like this: "AL-eye." As a verb, it's "uh-LIE."
Vocabulary lists containing ally
American History I
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The American Revolution - Introductory
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Excerpt from "The Philosophy of Literary Form" by Kenneth Burke
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He's also a close ally and friend of Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum is being hosted by Palau, which invited its diplomatic ally Taiwan to attend as an aid partner, along with China and other non-Pacific countries.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Although the timing and size of the deal haven’t yet been determined, a powerful ally has an incentive for the company to succeed: Uncle Sam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Sheinbaum reached a watershed moment in her presidency last weekend when she forced Sinaloa state Gov. Rubén Rocha—a close ally of López Obrador—out of office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Here, only the first aged has two syllables: My aged grandmother, who aged gracefully, took a liking to aged cheese when she was a child aged ten. ally.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
So far, efforts from the US and its allies to broker a peace deal have failed to deliver a breakthrough.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Other delegates bristled that the spat between close allies was an unnecessary distraction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Starmer had enjoyed some success in this area, working closely with Macron and winning admiration from allies.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Pavi and her allies still have to figure out a way to save the world, though.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The Soviets and Americans had been allies in the war, united by their common enemy, Adolf Hitler’s Germany.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
This may help explain why protecting allied governments appears to have become such an important part of Russia's regional strategy.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Another person allied with Bass contacted Fight Agency last month about working for the Bass campaign, Mikail said, which the firm declined.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Washington and Seoul have conducted joint military exercises since the 1950s as a deterrent against North Korean aggression and a signal of allied readiness.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Darline Graham’s allied super PACs—as well as her campaign—have outspent her rivals.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Charles had written about this very idea in his notebooks before the wedding—“Belief allied to instinct.”
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Analysts anticipate the conservative leader, who championed the legalisation of cannabis, could retain the premiership by again allying with Pheu Thai, now ranked third in surveys.
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
Additionally, Brics enables India to advance its core foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy, whereby it aims to balance relations with a wide spectrum of geopolitical players, without formally allying with any of them.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024
It would need support from another party or more to form a ruling legislative coalition, but so far, others have balked at allying with it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024
By the time the first Spanish missionaries arrived in the 14th century, at least seven different groups were trading, marrying, allying, and fighting with one another in a complex political network.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 3, 2024
Only twelve years ago, the rebels were at the height of their power, allying themselves with the Tribes and the king of Marinn.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
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.
