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

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The wide-leg look allows for plenty of airflow, making these a great staple for the warmer days of early fall. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025 The company develops drones utilizing a modular approach, which allows for mission-specific specialization and heavy-duty applications in a variety of challenging environments. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025 Most come from Central America, where low costs and ideal climate conditions allow for year-round farming. Mike Winters, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025 Project Nectar, developed in-house by Nike, is TPU-based and allows for additive manufacturing in the course of production. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allow for

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Cite this Entry

“Allow for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow%20for. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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