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
Before that White House event, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license that allows certain transactions with companies that would otherwise be banned from doing business with American businesses under the Belarusian sanctions.
—
ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Use hooks to hang tablecloths, saving space and allowing the textiles to be part of your display.
—Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Four escape baskets that can allow all four astronauts and five closeout crew members a zipline escape away from the launch tower.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
As the war progressed, Tehran accused several Gulf Arab states of allowing the US to use their territories to launch attacks onto the Islamic Republic.
—Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Use hooks to hang tablecloths, saving space and allowing the textiles to be part of your display.
—Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Four escape baskets that can allow all four astronauts and five closeout crew members a zipline escape away from the launch tower.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
As the war progressed, Tehran accused several Gulf Arab states of allowing the US to use their territories to launch attacks onto the Islamic Republic.
—Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
Mahan’s campaign website lays out a multi-pronged approach to ensuring affordable housing in the state, including through capping fees and taxes on new infill housing and addressing permitting delays.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
-
While parts of the US government have pledged for years to reduce animal testing, experts say the FDA especially has been slow to respond, implement and permit the use of nonanimal alternatives.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The state legislature has yet to approve a budget for this fiscal year that began in July – let for alone for 2026-27.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Don’t let false friends (or even well-meaning but financially unwise ones) pressure you into overspending.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If your space is shadier, stick with crops like lettuce or spinach that can tolerate less light.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Dissent isn’t tolerated and consensus isn’t a priority.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The result is a sandwich that illuminates, a sandwich that delights, a sandwich that redefines the Italian combo as a structure, a set of relationships, a formula that admits many solutions.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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After fueling a fourth-quarter comeback win for the Nuggets (43-28) on Friday night, the 33-year-old guard admitted the accolade has been on his mind as a source of motivation.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The result is the game Straight4 and publisher Giants should’ve launched in the first place, or at least allotted themselves the time to finish.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Teams are allotted two challenges per game.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Efforts to enable reversible, two-way actuation have led to the development of systems such as semi-crystalline networks and liquid crystalline elastomers, which depend on structural alignment under applied stress.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His skills enable him to offer advanced, minimally invasive procedures such as endoscopic midface and ponytail facelifts, which aim to produce natural-looking outcomes while minimizing visible scarring.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Strugglers also reflect the larger societal and political shifts that have swept through India.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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The early transition reflects a broader reality across Summit County, where thin snowpack and warm temperatures have shortened the ski season and pushed some winter operations to close early.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My mom thought any place with more than six rooms was a tourist trap.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Some even think the Fed could raise rates in 2026, a nearly unthinkable scenario before the war began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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