allow

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verb al·low \ ə-ˈlau̇ \

Definition of allow

transitive verb

1 a :permit

doesn't allow people to smoke in his home

b :to fail to restrain or prevent

allow the dog to roam

2 a :to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)

allow an hour for lunch

b :to reckon as a deduction or an addition

allow a gallon for leakage

3 :admit, concede

must allow that money causes problems in marriage

4 a chiefly Southern US and Midland US :to be of the opinion :think

b dialect :say, state

c :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 airport is finally easing ride-sharing regulations in an effort reduce traffic Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is now allowing Lyft and Uber drivers to drop off and pick up passengers on the same trip.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "LAX Just Made It Easier to Catch a Lyft/Uber from the Airport," 30 Aug. 2017
What’s new: The NFL, which insisted on Al Michaels calling the Thursday night games last season, has relented and will allow Mike Tirico to work most of those games — five airing only on NBC and four others on NFL Network.

— barry jackson, miamiherald, "Networks make major NFL talent changes with Romo the biggest addition," 30 Aug. 2017
Bergman allowed one run and five hits in two innings.

— staff reports, Glendale News-Press, "Sports Briefs: Hoover football game cancelled," 29 Aug. 2017
People without an appointment were not allowed into the governor's office.

— jazmine ulloa and mina corpuz, latimes.com, "Immigrant advocates hold prayer service in Gov. Jerry Brown's office to support 'sanctuary state' legislation," 29 Aug. 2017
Running backs DJ Howard (65 carries, 425 yards, 4 TDs) and Robert Agbai (48 carries, 319 yards, 2 TDs) are back as well and will allow Dawkins to move around the field.

— tim schwartz, Howard County Times, "Howard County football continues youth movement," 29 Aug. 2017
Behanan, the starting power forward on U of L's 2013 title team, told the Courier-Journal that he, too, was not allowed to play on campus at the Cards' facility.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Source: University of Louisville basketball cuts ties with former players over NCAA case," 28 Aug. 2017
A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts will allow South Shore Arts to expand two of its classroom art projects to more schools.

— meredith colias, Post-Tribune, "South Shore Arts receives grant to expand projects," 28 Aug. 2017
After the election, the new administration told the Supreme Court that the relevant laws allowed Ohio to purge its voter rolls.

— adam liptak, New York Times, "Trump’s Legal U-Turns May Test Supreme Court’s Patience," 28 Aug. 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

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

allow Synonyms

Synonyms

green-light, have, permit, suffer, stand for, put up with

Antonyms

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

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

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

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

play

verb al·low \ ə-ˈlau̇ \

Definition of allow for Students

allowed; 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

—

allowability

\ə-ˌlau̇-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

allowable

play \ə-ˈlau̇-ə-bəl\ adjective

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Examples of allow in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of allow

allow Synonyms

Synonyms

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Phrases Related to ALLOW

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ALLOW Defined for English Language Learners

allow

Definition of allow for English Language Learners

ALLOW Defined for Kids

allow

Definition of allow for Students

Law Dictionary

allow

legal Definition of allow

allowability

allowable

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