afford

verb af·ford \ ə-ˈfȯrd \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: afford in a Sentence

Definition of afford

afforded; affording; affords

transitive verb

1 a : to manage to bear without serious detriment

You can't afford to neglect your health.

b : to be able to bear the cost of

can't afford to be out of work long

2 : to make available, give forth, or provide naturally or inevitably

The sun affords warmth to the earth.

a delay that will afford us more time

See afford defined for English-language learners

See afford defined for kids

Examples of afford in a Sentence

We were too poor to afford a doctor.
He'll be able to afford a house next year.
Don't spend more than you can afford.
They couldn't afford new coats for the children.
We can afford waiting a while longer.
All of the rooms afford views of the lake.
He was afforded the opportunity to work for a judge.

Recent Examples of afford from the Web

What truly sets the space apart, though, Yosha-Snyder said, is the lifestyle Tarkington Tower affords.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Hot Property: 4-bedroom Tarkington Tower condo for $550K means amenities plus view," 13 July 2018
The effect is similar to a basic income, especially since most UBI models assume that rich people would have to pay more tax to afford them.

— The Economist, "The welfare state needs updating," 12 July 2018
Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad on Thursday ruled that Uresti doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to afford to pay for his own attorney.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Judge refuses to appoint Uresti’s lawyer of choice for appeal," 12 July 2018
Scoff at the notion of Bryant on Broadway, but the Oscar affords credibility other athletes can't touch.

— lee jenkins, SI.com, "Fantastic Voyage: Kobe Bryant Is Now an Entertainment Mogul with a Friendlier Mission," 12 July 2018
Tveidt says having answers to the lifelong questions about his origins has afforded him a new sense of solace.

— michelle theriault boots, Anchorage Daily News, "An Anchorage newborn was found abandoned in a cardboard box 32 years ago. Against the odds, he found his biological father.," 12 July 2018
But as in many other Australian cities, first-time buyers and families have struggled to afford steeper prices stoked by overseas property investors.

— michael taylor, The Christian Science Monitor, "Won't you be my neighbor: Melbourne experiments with community-led housing," 11 July 2018
Trump’s schedule will afford him little, if any, opportunity to interact with the public.

— christina boyle, latimes.com, "When Trump visits Britain, thousands of demonstrators plan to show him some resistance," 11 July 2018
Murkowski said, after a reporter asked her if any GOP members could afford to vote against the nominee.

— nash jenkins, Time, "Here's What the Key Senators Think About Brett Kavanaugh Right Now," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afford.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of afford

respelling (after Latin borrowings with initial aff-) of Middle English iforthen, aforthen, going back to Old English geforðian "to send out, promote, carry out," from ge-, perfective prefix + forðian "to send out, promote," verbal derivative of forþ "forth, forward" — more at co-, ¹forth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

afford Synonyms

Synonyms

go, swing;

Related Words

cover;

expend, finance, outlay, pay (for), pony up, spring (for);

pick up, purchase, take;

acquire, get, obtain, procure, secure;

bid, offer;

bankroll, endow, subsidize, underwrite;

Synonym Discussion of afford

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

- give alms
- gave her a ride on a pony
- give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

- present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

- donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

- bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

- confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

- the trees afford shade
- a development that affords us some hope

AFFORD Defined for English Language Learners

afford

verb

Definition of afford for English Language Learners

: to be able to pay for (something)
: to be able to do (something) without having problems or being seriously harmed
: to supply or provide (something needed or wanted) to someone