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
Those two factors also allowed for less tracking.
—
Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
The site is zoned as medium industrial and does not allow for a concrete batch plant.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
For people meeting the FDA criteria In the 31 states that allow for broader pharmacist vaccination authority, people meeting FDA's criteria (65 years and older, and people with underlying conditions), should be able to get the vaccine at a pharmacy like usual.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
This modularity allows for power capacity to be added incrementally as needed.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow for
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Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
The site is zoned as medium industrial and does not allow for a concrete batch plant.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
For people meeting the FDA criteria In the 31 states that allow for broader pharmacist vaccination authority, people meeting FDA's criteria (65 years and older, and people with underlying conditions), should be able to get the vaccine at a pharmacy like usual.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
This modularity allows for power capacity to be added incrementally as needed.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 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 8 Sep. 2025.
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