allow for
phrasal verb
allowed for; allowing for; allows for
1
: to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
When purchasing property, the company should allow for possible future growth/expansion.
2
: to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
The total distance, allowing for detours, is about 10 miles.
If you allow for inflation, he's actually earning less money now than he was 10 years ago.
3
: to make (something) possible
The design of the system allows for easy upgrades.
Examples of allow for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Inclusions will vary widely as some destinations allow for more independence on the itinerary.
—
Mary Curry, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Two-way contracts, which pay half the NBA rookie minimum and do not count toward the salary cap or luxury tax, allow for players to be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games with other game action having to come in the G League.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Its preservation allows for a more detailed reconstruction of ceremonial life than is usually possible with megalithic monuments.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow for
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Mary Curry, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Two-way contracts, which pay half the NBA rookie minimum and do not count toward the salary cap or luxury tax, allow for players to be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games with other game action having to come in the G League.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Its preservation allows for a more detailed reconstruction of ceremonial life than is usually possible with megalithic monuments.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow for
Cite this Entry
“Allow for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow%20for. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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