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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of allow
Better yet, the rules allow borrowers to put gift funds and other forms of assistance toward their up-front requirements.
—
Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
That’s why soccer fans were outraged to learn FIFA will no longer allow fans to bring an empty bottle into games.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
The owner of Diamond Beach Bums is seeking a zoning variance, which would allow the commercial property to be converted into eight residential units.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 4 June 2026
When she was eventually allowed to return to the area — now in a wheelchair — the bag was gone.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
That’s why soccer fans were outraged to learn FIFA will no longer allow fans to bring an empty bottle into games.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
The owner of Diamond Beach Bums is seeking a zoning variance, which would allow the commercial property to be converted into eight residential units.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 4 June 2026
When she was eventually allowed to return to the area — now in a wheelchair — the bag was gone.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
The opening salvo of the assault is intended to distract the Russians and permit four other robots to get behind enemy lines.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Basically, no matter how soap-y the show gets, Akerman permits the audience to buy into and sincerely enjoy the Hunting Wives ridiculousness.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The image of James’s paper lantern, let go and floating up into the night sky like a second moon, augurs his eventual fleeing from his family.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
These older strains of wheat and grains have been gaining more and more attention as they’re sometimes better tolerated than mass market wheats by many folks adversely affected by gluten.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Heritage strains tend to be grown with fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and some people who react poorly to modern wheat tolerate them better.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
An 89-72 win over the expansion Portland Fire on Sunday to close a 1-2 homestand felt more necessary than the Sparks might have wanted to admit.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Trying to process what had happened was difficult in the immediate aftermath, Calzini admits.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Using wartime authorities under the 1950 Defense Production Act, the administration will allot $425 million to 13 existing coal plants and $75 million for an export terminal in California.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
Open daily for dinner (two hours allotted per party), with lunch service added on Sundays.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
According to the firm, the dual-domain architecture enables the robot to interpret spoken instructions, understand its environment, generate action plans, and execute physical tasks with coordinated motion.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Originally designed to operate for just one year around Mars, MAVEN's mission was repeatedly extended, enabling the most extensive research into the workings of the Martian atmosphere ever attempted.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
In all these books, animals serve as mirrors, reflecting our personal and societal shortcomings and shame, our hubris, anxiety, and moral failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The name originated after apartheid ended in the 1990s and was rebranded as Bafana to reflect the integrated society.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The chances of 3-star Mississippi tackle DJ Dotson choosing UGA are higher than most think.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
-
My daughter calls me a creative engineer, someone who spends her life creatively thinking about ways to provide live experiences that offer joy and beauty, or maybe more importantly, that challenge us to see things differently.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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