1
as in to permit
to give permission for or to approve of
flash photography is not allowed inside the church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to let
to give permission to
a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tolerate
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference
only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to admit
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
I'll allow I probably said more than I should have
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to allot
to give as a share or portion
allowed each camper one match to light his fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to enable
to make able or possible
a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to reflect
to make a statement of one's opinion
he allowed that their new house looked very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in to think
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have as an opinion
people in these parts allow that everyone is entitled to one mistake in life, even if it's a doozy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in to intend
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I allow to go hunting before the season is over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of allow
But that trauma has passed, allowing Reilly to show off her riding skills in the new series.
—
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The Seahawks allowed just 3 points in the regular-season finale and then 6 points in the divisional round game two weeks later.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Orlando would then be allowed to stretch the $8 million owed over seven seasons, according to ESPN.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The seemingly limitless budgets and bottomless demand for content of the streaming television era have allowed studios to dramatize both long-ago and recent disasters.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The Seahawks allowed just 3 points in the regular-season finale and then 6 points in the divisional round game two weeks later.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Orlando would then be allowed to stretch the $8 million owed over seven seasons, according to ESPN.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The seemingly limitless budgets and bottomless demand for content of the streaming television era have allowed studios to dramatize both long-ago and recent disasters.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
Hernandez will continue competing under CIF rules permitting transgender participation and is scheduled to compete Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Current law permits officers who receive waivers to continue working until age 60, despite the standard mandatory retirement age of 57 or after 20 years of service, whichever comes later.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Katherine Short’s death is not recounted in the documentary, due to timing and a desire to let Short grieve privately.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
From feather to microfiber, knowing when to let go of your trusty cleaning companion can make all the difference in a fresher, healthier home.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Succulents are often native to hot or desert climates, and can tolerate abundant sunlight.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
-
Even in the latter part of his career, at the weekly newspaper New York Observer, his writings lost none of their sting, and indeed often seemed like an unappetizing leftover from an era when sour personal swipes were more tolerated.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
But ahead of her summer wedding to fiancé Matt Mahowald, Marshall admits sharing so much of her life online can sometimes blur personal boundaries.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Kemp admits that she was influenced by the lessons learned from the fan reaction to the conclusion of Power.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of the 20,000 spots that are usually available for New England Patriots games, the T said only 5,000 spaces will be allotted for fan parking on match days.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
No numbers have been confirmed regarding the winnings allotted to those who finish in second and third place.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
That can enable major cost reductions, especially in functions like HR, finance, customer service, and IT.—
Paul Goydan,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
While Capital One's lawsuit seeks damages, the bank said its primary goal of the litigation is to expose and deter bad actors and the firms that enable them.—
Stephanie Dhue,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Gambling’s prevalence during sports broadcasts reflects its status as an enormous and growing business in America.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
But because film is visual, characters cannot merely feel, react, or reflect on the page.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
If there are Porthilly oysters on the menu don’t even think about ordering another starter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Returning last summer, I was reminded of the incredible detail and thought put into every element of the park.—
Zachary Laks,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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