afford
verb (used with object)
to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.
have afforded
-
present perfectof afford.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
It also didn’t transmit its position, according to flight trackers, secrecy that would have afforded the president some protection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
"Everything has been free and I want to commend the Kano government for this scheme because without it, many couldn't have afforded to marry due to the high cost of living."
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
Thanks to these men, school kids today carry around more computing power in their backpacks than the Pentagon could have afforded in the 1950s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
“I don’t know that they could have afforded any of those things when they were in Cuba,” he tells De Los.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026
Mama and I used to walk past his furniture store to admire the window displays, but we never could have afforded anything in it.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
