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
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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
-
If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2025
-
Cooper noted that only personal items like a purse or brief briefcase are permitted, so don’t bring rolling bags, luggage and other unapproved items.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
That work stopped after all the federal staff who coordinate it were let go in April.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
1 July 2025
-
It was meant to encourage community and creativity, letting users showcase interesting prompts and responses.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 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
-
Adler responded by encouraging others to express interest in running the simulation for their organization (there is a form to fill out), but admitted that forecasts and predictions are hard.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
-
Nobody admits that all this activity serves as cover for avoiding the work that scares us: making real decisions, shipping imperfect products, having difficult conversations.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
For a three-year period, through the next fiscal year, California has been allotted funding worth more than $18.2 million, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
-
Differing budget plans passed by the state House and Senate this year both would start allotting sports betting tax revenue to the athletic programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.—
David A. Lieb,
Twin Cities,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
This includes mini-rovers, crewed lunar rovers, and all kinds of instrumentation that will enable lunar exploration, development, and in-situ resource development.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
28 June 2025
-
Fresh droppings often contain viral RNA, enabling researchers to recover full genomes and assess the pathogenic potential of circulating strains.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
With Jupiter and Mercury entering fellow water sign Cancer on June 9, you’re being encouraged to step back, reflect, and realign with your inner truth.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
Photos posted to the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Roley's mother and stepfather, reviewed by ABC News, reflect that familiarity with firearms.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Democrats still bemoan Ralph Nader’s presence on ballots in 2000, although the analysis that the consumer-safety zealot cost Al Gore the presidency is less clear-cut than many of them think.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
7 July 2025
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This was toward the end of Barack Obama’s first term, and Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, thought that the President wasn’t doing enough, or really much of anything, to fight climate change.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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