allow

play

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

Starting Sept. 1, the active 25-man roster will expand to 40, allowing teams to get more players major-league experience.

— drew hill, The Courier-Journal, "Reds pitching translates into short big-league stints for current Bats starters", 6 July 2017
An uncharacteristic error on Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado allowed a run to score to cut the Colorado lead to 4-3, but the inning ended on a Billy Hamilton groundout.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "In hitter’s paradise, big hit never comes for Reds", 6 July 2017
Just as the microscope revealed the cell, these researchers are crafting tools that will allow insight into the how neural networks make decisions.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "How AI detectives are cracking open the black box of deep learning", 6 July 2017
This swap allows the batteries to pack more energy within the same volume, Osborne said.

— dana hull, Bloomberg.com, "Tesla Sales Fall Flat, Clouding Outlook for Musk’s Bold Targets", 5 July 2017
In 2015, the group allowed women to join, in part due to pressure from the school's administration, and was met with blowback from the alumni community.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Harvard's Fox Club Is All-Male Once Again", 5 July 2017
But membership has allowed Britain to improve the policy.

— The Economist, "A spat about seafood shows the compromises that Brexit will force", 5 July 2017
Diaz-Balart is chairman of the House subcommittee tasked with funding the Federal Aviation Administration, a powerful position that allows the veteran lawmaker to shape legislation that affects the federal budget.

— alex daugherty, miamiherald, "Trump plan to overhaul air traffic control has key opponent: Mario Diaz-Balart", 5 July 2017
The Rock Island Station Shopping Center, anchored by CVS Pharmacy at the northeast corner of US 30 and Cedar Road, is expected to generate enough sales tax revenue to allow the village to build a new train station in the adjacent Metra lot.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "New Lenox approves new shopping center", 5 July 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

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

ALLOW Defined for English Language Learners

allow

play

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

play

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