plural allies
1
: a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league
America and its allies
2
: one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle
a political ally
She has proven to be a valuable ally in the fight for better working conditions.
—often now used specifically of a person who is not a member of a marginalized or mistreated group but who expresses or gives support to that group
The storyline on "Glee" captures something larger that we are seeing with a new generation of allies (allies are people who support LGBT rights but aren't LGBT themselves).—
David M. Hall
David M. Hall3
: a plant or animal linked to another by genetic or taxonomic proximity
ferns and their allies
-ally
3 of 3adverb suffix
: -ly entry 2
terrifically
—in adverbs formed from adjectives in -ic with no alternative form in -ical
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
There may be occasions when America can ally with some of those states, as we did during the Gulf War.
—Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
Teresa's right to teach, however, would not be vindicated until our time when the late Paul VI named her a doctor of the church. In her own lifetime Teresa had the good sense to ally herself with outstanding supporters such as the observant Franciscan Peter Alcantara and the famous Dominican theologian, Domenico Báñez.
—Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, 28 Jan. 2000
The singers ally themselves with a gifted songwriter, and everyone gets some major-label exposure for what just happens to be a splendid album.
—Michael Azerrad, Rolling Stone, 13-27 July 1995
Generally, however, psychoanalysts do ally themselves with two positions, the first of which is that dreams are meaningful.
—Wynn Schwartz, Dreamtime and Dreamwork, 1990
She's allied herself with the moderates on this issue.
countries allying themselves with the EU
He'll even admit that he's hoping to ally himself to a wealthy family by marriage.
They've allied with their former enemies.
Noun
When the Soviets pulled out in early 1989, the ensuing power vacuum turned former allies into enemies. The Muslim fighters known as mujahideen, who were unified in their struggle against the Soviets, disbanded and fought one another for control of Kabul in a devastating civil war.
—Jiffer Bourguignon, Saveur, March 2008
Our allies would need us more than we would need them, so we could count on them to rally to our side in a crunch.
—Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
These groups have learned from experience that the media are their most valuable ally. Publicity increases tips that fuel an investigation, and many communities have launched special-alert systems in the past few years to get news of an abduction on the air within minutes.
—Andrew Murr, Newsweek, 29 July 2002
fought with the Allies in World War II
She's counting on her allies in the state legislature.
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Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
Teresa's right to teach, however, would not be vindicated until our time when the late Paul VI named her a doctor of the church. In her own lifetime Teresa had the good sense to ally herself with outstanding supporters such as the observant Franciscan Peter Alcantara and the famous Dominican theologian, Domenico Báñez.
—Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, 28 Jan. 2000
The singers ally themselves with a gifted songwriter, and everyone gets some major-label exposure for what just happens to be a splendid album.
—Michael Azerrad, Rolling Stone, 13-27 July 1995
Generally, however, psychoanalysts do ally themselves with two positions, the first of which is that dreams are meaningful.
—Wynn Schwartz, Dreamtime and Dreamwork, 1990
She's allied herself with the moderates on this issue.
countries allying themselves with the EU
He'll even admit that he's hoping to ally himself to a wealthy family by marriage.
They've allied with their former enemies.
Noun
When the Soviets pulled out in early 1989, the ensuing power vacuum turned former allies into enemies. The Muslim fighters known as mujahideen, who were unified in their struggle against the Soviets, disbanded and fought one another for control of Kabul in a devastating civil war.
—Jiffer Bourguignon, Saveur, March 2008
Our allies would need us more than we would need them, so we could count on them to rally to our side in a crunch.
—Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
These groups have learned from experience that the media are their most valuable ally. Publicity increases tips that fuel an investigation, and many communities have launched special-alert systems in the past few years to get news of an abduction on the air within minutes.
—Andrew Murr, Newsweek, 29 July 2002
fought with the Allies in World War II
She's counting on her allies in the state legislature.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJames Poniewozik, New York Times, 10 May 2023
Patriotic Millionaires have allied in the past with progressive lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders on fiscal issues, but the group is now proposing a much more sweeping vision for tax reform.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2023
However, the only thing sustaining production of the NG at this point is military orders, meaning mainly U.S. and allied demand for the P-8.
—Loren Thompson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The witnesses and relatives say that on Oct. 25, Eritrean forces allied with the Ethiopian troops began massacring people in at least 10 villages east of the town of Adwa.
—Catherine Garcia, The Week, 28 Feb. 2023
This will almost certainly mean continued and even increased U.S. and allied support through 2023.
—The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2023
Greene can ally herself with McCarthy, or pretend to disavow QAnon beliefs—none of it matters.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023
CEOs from retail to technology have recently made this case, as have allied politicians from both sides of the aisle.
—Steven A. Camarota, National Review, 16 May 2023
While no voters interviewed in recent weeks openly expressed such sentiments, many voiced concerns about a different minority group, criticizing the opposition for working with Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party, equating that to allying with terrorists.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 15 May 2023
Becky Anderson, CNN, 16 June 2023
In the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s game, joy spread palpably through Fenway Park as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community celebrated Pride Night at Fenway Park.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
China and Cuba are not allies in the sense that the USSR and Cuba were; Moscow and Havana were bound by strong ideological ties and revolutionary socialism.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is exploring Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election win in the state, where Trump and his allies made unfounded allegations of voter fraud.
—Time, 13 June 2023
Among the top-secret and other classified records were details on foreign nations’ nuclear capabilities, as well as information regarding U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to an attack.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
Political allies paid tribute Monday to a man who fiercely divided opinion but had nevertheless been a cornerstone of Italian life for more than 40 years.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC News, 12 June 2023
His first government, also in 1994, collapsed after eight months when a volatile ally who led an anti-immigrant party yanked support.
—Frances D'emilio, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2023
Logan's findings allowed Trump allies to insist the vote was compromised.
—Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2023
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Verb
The robots are here, and the humans are racing to defend against them, or to ally with them.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 10 May 2023
Patriotic Millionaires have allied in the past with progressive lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders on fiscal issues, but the group is now proposing a much more sweeping vision for tax reform.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2023
However, the only thing sustaining production of the NG at this point is military orders, meaning mainly U.S. and allied demand for the P-8.
—Loren Thompson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The witnesses and relatives say that on Oct. 25, Eritrean forces allied with the Ethiopian troops began massacring people in at least 10 villages east of the town of Adwa.
—Catherine Garcia, The Week, 28 Feb. 2023
This will almost certainly mean continued and even increased U.S. and allied support through 2023.
—The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2023
Greene can ally herself with McCarthy, or pretend to disavow QAnon beliefs—none of it matters.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023
CEOs from retail to technology have recently made this case, as have allied politicians from both sides of the aisle.
—Steven A. Camarota, National Review, 16 May 2023
While no voters interviewed in recent weeks openly expressed such sentiments, many voiced concerns about a different minority group, criticizing the opposition for working with Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party, equating that to allying with terrorists.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 15 May 2023
Noun
One year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Gulf state’s balancing act demonstrates a wider policy across the Middle East of discreet neutrality, as well as the United States’ inability to sway its Middle Eastern allies to join the Western camp against its adversaries.
—Becky Anderson, CNN, 16 June 2023
In the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s game, joy spread palpably through Fenway Park as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community celebrated Pride Night at Fenway Park.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
China and Cuba are not allies in the sense that the USSR and Cuba were; Moscow and Havana were bound by strong ideological ties and revolutionary socialism.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is exploring Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election win in the state, where Trump and his allies made unfounded allegations of voter fraud.
—Time, 13 June 2023
Among the top-secret and other classified records were details on foreign nations’ nuclear capabilities, as well as information regarding U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to an attack.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
Political allies paid tribute Monday to a man who fiercely divided opinion but had nevertheless been a cornerstone of Italian life for more than 40 years.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC News, 12 June 2023
His first government, also in 1994, collapsed after eight months when a volatile ally who led an anti-immigrant party yanked support.
—Frances D'emilio, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2023
Logan's findings allowed Trump allies to insist the vote was compromised.
—Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English allien, from Anglo-French alier, from Latin alligare to bind to, from ad- + ligare to bind — more at ligature
Adverb suffix
-al entry 1 + -ly
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of ally was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near ally
Cite this Entry
“Ally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ally. Accessed 28 Jun. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
-ally
3 of 3 adverb suffix
-al·ly
(ə-)lē
Etymology
Verb
Middle English allien "unite," from early French alier (same meaning), derived from Latin al-, ad- "to" and ligare "to bind" — related to ligament
Adverb suffix
from 1-al + -ly
More from Merriam-Webster on ally
Nglish: Translation of ally for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ally for Arabic Speakers
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