allow

Verbs

  • (v) make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
    • This permits the water to rush in
    • This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement
    • This will permit the rain to run off
    let, permit,
  • (v) consent to, give permission
    • She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband
    • I won't let the police search her basement
    • I cannot allow you to see your exam
    countenance, permit, let,
  • (v) let have
    • grant permission
    • Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison
    grant,
  • (v) give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
    • I will earmark this money for your research
    • She sets aside time for meditation every day
    appropriate, earmark, set aside, reserve,
  • (v) make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain
    • This leaves no room for improvement
    • The evidence allows only one conclusion
    • allow for mistakes
    • leave lots of time for the trip
    • This procedure provides for lots of leeway
    allow for, provide, leave,
  • (v) allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something
    • I allow for this possibility
    • The seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash
    take into account,
  • (v) afford possibility
    • This problem admits of no solution
    • This short story allows of several different interpretations
    admit,
  • (v) allow the other (baseball) team to score
    • give up a run
    give up,
  • (v) grant as a discount or in exchange
    • The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera
  • (v) allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting
    • We don't allow dogs here
    • Children are not permitted beyond this point
    • We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital
    permit, tolerate,

Synonyms

let permit countenance grant appropriate earmark set aside reserve allow for provide leave take into account admit give up tolerate

Antonyms

prevent keep disallow forbid nix prohibit proscribe interdict veto deny refuse

Words of close approximity

allot alloy
ally
Allah allay Allen alley allis allot alloy allyl
allowable allowably allowance allowance account allow for allow in