allow

allow

verb

Definition of ALLOW

1

to give permission for or to approve of <flash photography is not allowed inside the church>

Synonyms green-light, have, permit, suffer

Related Words authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), OK (or okay), warrant; accord, concede, grant, sanction, vouchsafe; admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, tolerate

Phrases stand for

Near Antonyms hinder, impede, obstruct; censure, disallow, disapprove, deny, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold; deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge; check, curb, keep, repress, restrain

Antonyms ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

2

to give permission to <a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission>

Synonyms leave, let, permit

Related Words authorize, commission, empower, license (also licence); approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; free, liberate, release; cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge

Near Antonyms deter, discourage; bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

Antonyms enjoin, forbid, prohibit

3

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 let, permit, suffer, tolerate

Related Words brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at); excuse, forgive, pardon; brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge

Phrases put up with

Near Antonyms forbid, prohibit; curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)

Antonyms bar, block, constrain, prevent

4

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <I'll allow I probably said more than I should have>

Synonyms acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, fess (up), grant, own (up to)

Related Words disburden, unburden, unload; affirm, avow, confirm, profess; accept, recognize, yield; announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil; betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up); breathe, say, whisper

Near Antonyms disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown; contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative; rebut, refute, reject, repudiate; conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil; kid (oneself)

Antonyms deny

5

to give as a share or portion <allowed each camper one match to light his fire>

Synonyms allocate, allow, apportion, assign, distribute, lot, ration

Related Words admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split; accord, award, give, grant; earmark, reserve; chip in, contribute, donate; reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute

Near Antonyms begrudge, deny, deprive (of); keep, retain, stint, withhold; appropriate, arrogate, confiscate

6

to make able or possible <a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls>

Synonyms allow, empower, let, permit

Related Words fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready; approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; condition, equip

Near Antonyms inhibit, preclude; disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

Antonyms prevent

7

to make a statement of one's opinion <he allowed that their new house looked very nice>

Synonyms allow, comment, editorialize, note, observe, opine, reflect, weigh in

Related Words commentate; articulate, express, say, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize; conjecture, daresay, guess, speculate, suppose, surmise

8

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 allow [chiefly Southern & Midland], conceive, consider, deem, esteem, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, reckon [chiefly dialect], suppose, think

Related Words regard, view; accept, perceive; depend, rely, trust; assume, presume, presuppose, surmise; conclude, deduce, infer

Near Antonyms distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, suspect; disbelieve, discredit, reject

9

chiefly Southern & Midland  to have in mind as a purpose or goal <I allow to go hunting before the season is over>

Synonyms aim, allow [chiefly Southern & Midland], aspire, calculate, contemplate, design, go [chiefly Southern & Midland], look, mean, meditate, plan, propose, purport, purpose

Related Words dream, hope, wish; consider, debate, mull (over), ponder; attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try; plot, scheme; accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, perform