1
as in to permit
to give permission for or to approve of
flash photography is not allowed inside the church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to let
to give permission to
a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tolerate
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference
only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to admit
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
I'll allow I probably said more than I should have
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to allot
to give as a share or portion
allowed each camper one match to light his fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to enable
to make able or possible
a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to reflect
to make a statement of one's opinion
he allowed that their new house looked very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in to think
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have as an opinion
people in these parts allow that everyone is entitled to one mistake in life, even if it's a doozy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in to intend
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I allow to go hunting before the season is over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of allow
Trump has announced a deal with Vietnam that would allow U.S. goods to enter the country duty-free, while Vietnamese exports to the U.S. would face a 20% levy.
—
Brit Morse, Fortune, 6 July 2025
Ushering in nothing short of a police state intent on ethnic cleansing, Trump’s proposed 2026 budget authorizes funding for detention complexes greater than the budget for the federal prison system and detention complex capacity that will allow the government to detain at least 116,000 at once.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Congress must create a proper immigration process and allow these good people to stay.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
Those included allowing some mayoral vetoes to stand, including the mayor eliminating $250,000 for a homeless outreach team and $225,000 that would have revived the city’s chief operating officer position.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
Brit Morse, Fortune, 6 July 2025
Ushering in nothing short of a police state intent on ethnic cleansing, Trump’s proposed 2026 budget authorizes funding for detention complexes greater than the budget for the federal prison system and detention complex capacity that will allow the government to detain at least 116,000 at once.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Congress must create a proper immigration process and allow these good people to stay.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
Those included allowing some mayoral vetoes to stand, including the mayor eliminating $250,000 for a homeless outreach team and $225,000 that would have revived the city’s chief operating officer position.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
Fishing is permitted anywhere on the lake, and popular spots to try to catch something (while not on a boat) include Bear Lake State Park Marina and Cisco Beach on the Utah side of the lake.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
13 July 2025
-
In a LinkedIn post, Farley called for speeding up permitting processes, increasing spending on vocational training, leveraging robotics and augmented reality to help with these spaces and suggested an AmeriCorps-type program for these roles.—
Breana Noble,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Taylor was never interested in letting her health hold her back from traveling.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Rather than let the tariffs kick in, Trump postponed them again, this time to August 1st.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
But since azaleas tolerate heavy pruning and respond by sending out new shoots all along remaining stems, the shrubs work well when sheared into a formal hedge.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
-
More precisely, Jews have been subjected to an invidious double standard: attacks, verbal and physical, that would never be tolerated against Blacks, gays and other minorities are not only tolerated, but often justified when directed at Jews.—
Alan M. Dershowitz,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
Chesky admits that remaining composed while covering these tragedies has been a challenge for him, especially as the father of a 2-year-old daughter, Eleanor.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
8 July 2025
-
That got worse through emergency room trips on May 18 and May 20, the latter leading to University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she was admitted.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
First Qatar, then Senegal, Togo, Spain, Colombia, Brazil, China, Lebanon and the U.K. spoke for three minutes each, the time allotted to member states.—
Isabelle Mayault,
The Dial,
8 July 2025
-
Even more unconventional is the way these portals are arrayed and allotted.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
There’s a fine line between compatibility and codependency, having compassion for another person’s failings and enabling them.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 July 2025
-
Full subscription of the retail offer would raise an additional 1.2 million pounds, which will be used to drive the business and enable Baldo’s turnaround plan.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
That's because open blinds and pulled back curtains allows the sun to shine through your home and reflect off the gas, thus adding more heat to the inside.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
13 July 2025
-
Both should reflect you—not just your current role.—
Nirit Cohen,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Founding member of the pop rock band OneRepublic and political outsider Tim Myers thinks so.—
William Melhado
July 7,
Sacbee.com,
7 July 2025
-
Huge upset as Las Vegas, who many thought would go undefeated this weekend, lose their opener 3-1.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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