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
In The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie returns, taking a job keeping house for yet another woman she’s never allowed to see — only to discover the truth behind the locked door that threatens to expose secrets far darker than her own.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 June 2026
The energy company recommends keeping air-conditioners as warm as comfort allows, as every degree warmer can reportedly lead to 1-3% less electricity.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Between inflation, rising labor costs and advances in veterinary medicine that allow pets to receive more sophisticated treatments, the cost of keeping a pet healthy has climbed noticeably in recent years.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Cardinals’ Hunter Dobbins allowed three runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
—ABC News, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 June 2026
The energy company recommends keeping air-conditioners as warm as comfort allows, as every degree warmer can reportedly lead to 1-3% less electricity.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Between inflation, rising labor costs and advances in veterinary medicine that allow pets to receive more sophisticated treatments, the cost of keeping a pet healthy has climbed noticeably in recent years.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Cardinals’ Hunter Dobbins allowed three runs with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
—ABC News, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
The park said all guests must also pass through a weapons detection system at the front gate during the summer, and only bags 15 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches are permitted — with exceptions for medical and diaper bags.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
Detmers permitted only one hit over seven innings.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The shame of opening the door to them in my filthy pajamas, of letting them into an apartment that had not been cleaned or aired for days.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Mamdani's office responded to Rapaport's criticism by stressing that assaults on police officers and other postgame violence will not be tolerated.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
All of this demands constant adaptation inside a market that has stopped tolerating growth at any cost.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
9 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
-
Later, in 2019, the administration allotted $3 million annually for five years.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Another 20,000 visas are allotted annually through the program to foreign nationals holding advanced degrees.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Inexplicably, six Republicans in the Assembly and one in the Senate agreed to vote for AB 1768, thereby allowing many Democrats to skip the politically risky vote to enable yet another tax hike on working people.—
Susan Shelley,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
-
Iturmendi believes the solid-state batteries will enable these missions on a single charge.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 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
-
Perhaps Wetzel is already thinking about a radio-friendly alternate line.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
Still, Henry says Musk has a way of clearing hurdles the industry thought impossible.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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