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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of allow
Our association is now telling us that the town said the fences were mistakenly allowed to be put too close to the lake.
—
Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
However, beef is allowed to enter the country duty-free despite the president’s tariffs.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
United Airlines, for example, now offers a bag-tracking feature in its app that allows travelers to follow luggage throughout the journey, with updates similar to package delivery tracking.
—Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The bill made permanent the qualified opportunity zone program, which allows investors to defer capital gains by rolling them over into a fund that invests in a low-income community.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
However, beef is allowed to enter the country duty-free despite the president’s tariffs.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
United Airlines, for example, now offers a bag-tracking feature in its app that allows travelers to follow luggage throughout the journey, with updates similar to package delivery tracking.
—Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The bill made permanent the qualified opportunity zone program, which allows investors to defer capital gains by rolling them over into a fund that invests in a low-income community.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
The bill, which has passed the state Assembly, will permit the government to discriminate in all aspects of K-12 education and some aspects of colleges and universities, except for admissions and enrollment.—
Alison Somin,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Any additional charges must be authorized by your original contract or permitted under applicable law.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New Zealand's finishing let it down on numerous occasions, notably when Jackson missed an open goal in the 51st minute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Tidy one corner, and let success build from there.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The demonstrations were tolerated until the weekend, when police used pepper spray in clashes with some protesters and an army truck knocked down a log barricade at the Galway port.—
Brian Melley,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Dairy milks, such as skim and whole, contain lactose, which may cause bloating or digestive discomfort for people who don’t tolerate it well.—
Brianna Tobritzhofer,
Health,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hall, who lost the use of both legs from childhood polio, sued in 1978 to have wheelchair racers admitted into the New York Marathon, a fight that wasn’t settled until the race created men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions in 2000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The proponents of this measure have even admitted unabashedly that this is part of a national effort to divide Coloradoans and drive turnout in the midterm elections.—
Mike Smith,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The more flights in and out of O'Hare, the more gates an airline is allotted.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When funds are available because a different project came in under the amount it had been allotted, the county is able to move those funds to another project.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, in February, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new clinical guidelines enabling earlier diagnosis of endometriosis without surgery, a step toward addressing the delays Waters described.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike conventional industrial automation, the system requires no custom tooling and supports mixed-model production, enabling faster changeovers and significantly reducing downtime.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Consider the island vibes and shakerato riffs of Wonderift Coffee in Ahwatukee, while on Grand Avenue, Malegría Cafe blends Salvadorian horchata lattes, reflecting how local coffee culture is embracing Latin influences.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Hale traverses mountain trails, excavates court records, and reflects on his family’s roots in the region to examine the unexpected connections between the two events.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The playing position was thought more decorous than the position for the violin, and the mandolin itself was visually attractive, appearing as a fashion accessory in any number of paintings.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Some think Bond's crisp tuxedo will fit Theo James best, while others are rallying behind Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
