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
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Recent Examples of allow
He would, however, be gladly welcomed there, in strict compliance with the rules of the sanctuary, where no physical interaction between humans and great apes is allowed.
—
Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
That far out in the field and the thunder of the spectator’s cheers would drown out the footfalls of Pal’s competitors, and so the number three would put the colt closer to the center of action and increase the odds of victory—should he be allowed to run.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Ruiz criticized Democrats who have opposed the SAVE Act as doing so to allow undocumented immigrants the ability to vote.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The new state law allows urban housing developments to bypass California Environmental Quality Act review.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
That far out in the field and the thunder of the spectator’s cheers would drown out the footfalls of Pal’s competitors, and so the number three would put the colt closer to the center of action and increase the odds of victory—should he be allowed to run.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Ruiz criticized Democrats who have opposed the SAVE Act as doing so to allow undocumented immigrants the ability to vote.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The new state law allows urban housing developments to bypass California Environmental Quality Act review.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
This is the last month (until September) in which this biggest of planets is high enough in a dark sky to permit crisp telescopic views of its cloud patterns and four big satellites.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Central to those cases is the idea that college athletes, at least football players at the power conference level, are a labor market that sells services and that the NCAA permitting colleges to directly pay athletes is consistent with a pro league and teams that buy athlete services.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Choose one interaction to handle with calm and clarity today, and let that set a steadier tone for everything that follows.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Start the conversation, make your point clearly, and let the response shape what happens next instead of adjusting midstream.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It would be dedicated to the heroic patience with which Americans have tolerated billionaires like him for so very long.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
If investors and consumers begin to think the Fed is willing to tolerate higher inflation, expectations of future inflation—which can be just as influential as the real thing—can drift upward, making price growth harder to contain.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By its final years, the hall mostly hosted dancing, admitting men for 50 cents and women free of charge.—
Graham Womack
May 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
-
The Vikings won’t admit it, but this sure looks like a rebuilding year.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
They are allotted 90 days to work with each patient, usually during home visits.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Clarkson filed another lawsuit against her ex and the management company, claiming she should get paid more than the amount allotted.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If portions of the page appear blank and an ad blocker is enabled, please disable the ad blocker and refresh the page to ensure full access to the content.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Using magnetic fields, this system enables power transfer to electric ships without physical metal contact, shielding vital components from nature’s corrosive elements.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Yet its release may reflect a bid by European officials to seize upon a hope that critics have argued has long been their sole strategy to defeat Russia in Ukraine – to wait for its internal collapse.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
-
While the underlying value is tied to the global spot price of gold, coins are sold at a premium that reflects minting costs, distribution, and dealer margins.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Defense won two Stanley Cups for the Kings, but Holland openly wondered whether the Kings need to think bigger.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The firms thought the approval for that would count as a building permit.—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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