allow

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verb al·low \ə-ˈlau̇\

Definition of allow

transitive verb
1a : permit doesn't allow people to smoke in his homeb : to fail to restrain or prevent allow the dog to roam
2a : to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money) allow an hour for lunchb : to reckon as a deduction or an addition allow a gallon for leakage
3 : admit, concede must allow that money causes problems in marriage
4a chiefly Southern US and Midland US : to be of the opinion : thinkb dialect : say, statec : to express an opinion —usually used with as how or that
5 chiefly Southern US and Midland US : intend, plan
intransitive verb
1 : to make a possibility : admit —used with of evidence that allows of only one conclusion
2 : to give consideration to circumstances or contingencies —used with for a plan that allows for expansion

See allow defined for English-language learners

See allow defined for kids

Examples of allow in a Sentence

a religion that does not allow divorce
They don't allow smoking in this hotel.
I want to change my schedule, but my boss won't allow it.
My boss wouldn't allow me to change my schedule.
They don't allow people to smoke in this hotel.
Women were not allowed in the club.
The hospital doesn't allow visitors after 8 p.m.
Her schedule doesn't allow her any time to run errands.
The system allows you to transfer data easily from one computer to another.
Occasional gaps allow passage through the mountains.

Recent Examples of allow from the Web

The SEC tabled a vote on Georgia's intraconference transfer proposal that would have allowed players to transfer within the conference without the need for a waiver.

— drew champlin, AL.com, "Auburn recruiting podcast: Could Big Cat Weekend yield commitments?", 2 June 2017
Sharara field production said to rise 25,000 barrels a day North African nation output at highest since October 2014 Libya’s biggest oil field boosted production, allowing the OPEC nation to pump crude at the highest level since October 2014.

— hatem mohareb, Bloomberg.com, "Libya's Biggest Oil Field Boosts Production, Raising the Country's Output", 31 May 2017
There were also fine gradations of enslavement that allowed slaves to change their status through intermarriage and manumission.

— vicente rafael, The Atlantic, "Lola’s Resistant Dignity", 31 May 2017
Wheeler will eventually be allowed to post bond pending an appeal.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "He didn’t give police his iPhone pass code, so he got 180 days in jail", 30 May 2017
The law limits deposits and nonrefundable fees to one month’s rent and pet fees to an additional one-fourth of monthly rent, and allows those costs to be paid over six months.

— mike rosenberg, The Seattle Times, "Landlords to sue over Seattle cap on move-in fees for renters", 29 May 2017
The new chip would let Apple offload those tasks onto a dedicated module designed specifically for demanding artificial intelligence processing, allowing Apple to improve battery performance.

— mark gurman, chicagotribune.com, "Apple said to plan dedicated chip to power AI on devices", 29 May 2017
If your group raised $2 million in war bonds, it would be allowed to name one of the ships.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Those Little Flags Matter", 26 May 2017
RAYS SALVAGE A SPLIT Matt Andriese allowed six hits over eight innings, Colby Rasmus drove in four runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays salvaged a split of a four-game series at home with Los Angeles by beating the Angels, 4-0.

— the associated press, New York Times, "Bernhard Langer Leads in Bid for Senior Golf Record", 25 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of allow

Middle English, from Anglo-French aluer, alouer to place, apportion, allow, from Middle French allocare — more at allocate

First Known Use: 14th century

ALLOW Defined for English Language Learners

allow

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verb

Definition of allow for English Language Learners

: to permit (something) : to regard or treat (something) as acceptable
: to permit (someone) to have or do something
: to permit (someone) to go or come in, out, etc.

ALLOW Defined for Kids

allow

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verb al·low \ə-ˈlau̇\

Definition of allow for Students

allowed

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allowing

1 : to give permission to Mom allowed us to stay up late.
2 : to fail to prevent Don't allow the dog to roam.
3 : to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money) Our parents allowed us each five dollars to spend.
4 : to accept as true : concede I'm willing to allow that he may be right.
5 : to consider when making a decision or a calculation Our plans didn't allow for the possibility of rain.
6 : to make it possible to have or do something Your shoes should be big enough to allow for growth.

Law Dictionary

allow

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transitive verb al·low \ə-ˈlau̇\

Legal Definition of allow

: to give approval of or permission for: as a : to grant fulfillment of allowed her petition for relief b : to decide in favor of allow a deduction on a tax return c : to permit to be presented allows his claim more jurisdictions will allow the cause of action