1
as in permits
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 lets
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 tolerates
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 admits
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 allots
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 enables
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 reflects
to make a statement of one's opinion
he allowed that their new house looked very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in believes
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 intends
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 allows
The modernization of the space allows support for more than 500 soldiers, including spaces for male and female guard members, as well as enhancements for the changing needs of the guard’s different units.
—
Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Like any other rotating 2-in-1, the Swift Spin has a 360-degree hinge that allows the laptop to rotate among clamshell mode, an A-frame mode, a screen-out/keyboard-down presentation mode, or tablet mode.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
Texas creates space for adult high schools Traci Berry is the CEO and superintendent of New Heights, and helped write Senate Bill 2032, passed in spring 2023, which allows entities to enter into agreements among nonprofits, community colleges, and adult charter schools to form adult high schools.
—Kamal Morgan
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
That mindset simplifies his decision-making, sharpens perception and allows his performance to become more instinctive.
—Elise Devlin, New York Times, 29 May 2026
For example, Hungarian students will once again be able to join the Erasmus scholarship program that allows students to attend schools across the EU, an opportunity that had been suspended under Orbán.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Denver International Airport will no longer offer a system that allows travelers to reserve a place in the security line after June 27, airport officials announced this week.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
For a more personalized approach, ZipRecruiter's Invite to Apply tool allows employers to browse resumes and send invitations to top talent, improving candidate quality and speeding up the hiring process.
—Audrey Payne, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Current federal law allows states to exempt themselves from observing Daylight Saving Time by state law.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 May 2026
Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Like any other rotating 2-in-1, the Swift Spin has a 360-degree hinge that allows the laptop to rotate among clamshell mode, an A-frame mode, a screen-out/keyboard-down presentation mode, or tablet mode.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
Texas creates space for adult high schools Traci Berry is the CEO and superintendent of New Heights, and helped write Senate Bill 2032, passed in spring 2023, which allows entities to enter into agreements among nonprofits, community colleges, and adult charter schools to form adult high schools.
—Kamal Morgan
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
That mindset simplifies his decision-making, sharpens perception and allows his performance to become more instinctive.
—Elise Devlin, New York Times, 29 May 2026
For example, Hungarian students will once again be able to join the Erasmus scholarship program that allows students to attend schools across the EU, an opportunity that had been suspended under Orbán.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Denver International Airport will no longer offer a system that allows travelers to reserve a place in the security line after June 27, airport officials announced this week.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
For a more personalized approach, ZipRecruiter's Invite to Apply tool allows employers to browse resumes and send invitations to top talent, improving candidate quality and speeding up the hiring process.
—Audrey Payne, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Current federal law allows states to exempt themselves from observing Daylight Saving Time by state law.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allows
Verb
-
If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
25 May 2026
-
If time permits, disconnect utilities and appliances.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Many customers already received automatic refunds, but a second phase now lets eligible users submit claims online through July 27, 2026.—
Staff reports,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
This will give a small outdoor space a more natural feel that lets the greenery be the focus.—
Jenny Hughes,
The Spruce,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Will its out-of-the-box simplicity—born from a culture that tolerates zero friction—be seen as a competitive edge, or a constraint?—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Podocarpus tolerates heavy pruning and can be shaped to suit your needs.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Published in Military Thought, the piece even openly admits several major weaknesses in Russia’s operations in the region, given the reality of modern air warfare.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
-
Boreing, who co-founded the company alongside Shapiro and spearheaded pricey, ambitious projects like its Pendragon Cycle TV series — which the company admits was a dud with audiences — departed his own executive role more than a year ago.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
When a team allots minutes to so many young players simultaneously, lapses in concentration and on-court mistakes are bound to happen.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
LiPfe offers a new experimental model that enables scientists to work with a structured piece of animal tissue that maintains its own immune activity, cell cycling, and nutrient intake, without ethical concerns that come with experimenting on live animals.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
Domestic capabilities are the foundation American ingenuity was a genesis for AI, from the invention of the transistor to the development of the transformer, which enables large language models.—
Olivia White,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Other vendors prepare street food that reflects the diversity of the San Fernando Valley, and live entertainment from local bands ties it all together, making the Encino Farmers Market a joyous ritual.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
26 May 2026
-
De Rycker argued that Perceptic’s approach reflects a broader pattern in enterprise AI, in which platforms increasingly unify workflows and data across multiple departments rather than offering standalone tools.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Levy is the petitioner in a lawsuit now working its way through the San Diego Superior Court, and his case raises questions that should concern not only every California property owner but every American who believes that government power needs limits.—
Jeremy Talcott,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
-
The guy, McCartney believes, was a personal photographer for Prince.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allows. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
