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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of allow
That same bullpen had allowed 17 runs across 17 innings in the postseason entering Tuesday night.
—
Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s press office outlined new rules that would sharply restrict reporting, leveraging the fact that many military reporters have press credentials allowing physical access to the Pentagon complex.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Locating and tracking an object that's only a few feet across, with its position uncertain, is not an easy task, but the observations allowed the astronomers to pinpoint the asteroid's trajectory and flyby time.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Alaïa’s staging was intimate and powerful, allowing the clothes to be the focus.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s press office outlined new rules that would sharply restrict reporting, leveraging the fact that many military reporters have press credentials allowing physical access to the Pentagon complex.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Locating and tracking an object that's only a few feet across, with its position uncertain, is not an easy task, but the observations allowed the astronomers to pinpoint the asteroid's trajectory and flyby time.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Alaïa’s staging was intimate and powerful, allowing the clothes to be the focus.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
Such dreams of prosperity are only permitted for so long.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
If required, an individual-sized soft-sided cooler will be permitted.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To facilitate even heating, let food rest for a few minutes after cooking.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But let’s see what happens when Mississippi State takes its show on the road in a game of significance (sorry, Southern Miss).—
Matt Hayes,
USA TODAY,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here, grizzlies don’t equate people with food—as opposed to populated areas where alluring smells forge a connection—and have learned to tolerate humans, thanks to decades of naturalists adopting nonthreatening practices.—
Susan Portnoy,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Water Chocolate cosmos tolerate dry conditions once established, but thrive with regular irrigation.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Arsenal’s flanks were regularly targeted despite Jeglertz admitting the initial game plan was to sear through Arsenal’s middle.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Though Henry Gein's death in the series is portrayed as murder by his brother, in real life, investigators ruled out foul play at the time, and Ed Gein never admitted having a role in the death.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bayern were allotted the hardest draw of the league phase by Opta’s fixture difficulty metric and still have to take on PSG and Arsenal.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The amount varies each day because every country is different, but each team is allotted the same amount.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Moscow has also touted a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) capability, enabling warheads to be placed on low-Earth orbital trajectories toward their targets, a profile that complicates early detection and interception.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In analyzing dozens of hours of audio and video footage of public and private speaking events for McMahon’s appointees, as well as their writings, ProPublica found that a recurring theme is the desire to enable more families to leave public schools.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Launched from submerged submarines, the M51 can reach altitudes exceeding 2,000 kilometers and re-enters the atmosphere at speeds up to Mach 20, reflecting France’s focus on precision, reliability, and constant readiness in maintaining its 290-warhead nuclear deterrent.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The growing appetite from both private collectors and public audiences builds on years of scholarship by academics such as Ogbechie, and curator Bonsu hopes that this mainstream interest alongside the exhibition will prompt visitors to ask questions and reflect on their own cultural heritage.—
Suyin Haynes,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The hairs on the back of the neck still stand up now when thinking of the post-match celebrations after David Seaman’s penalty save dumped out Spain in the quarter-finals.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Because nothing lifts your spirits like discovering somebody on the other side of the world who thinks like you — or, even better, sees things in an entirely different way.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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