plural allies
1
: a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league
America and its allies
2
: one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle
a political ally
She has proven to be a valuable ally in the fight for better working conditions.
—often now used specifically of a person who is not a member of a marginalized or mistreated group but who expresses or gives support to that group
The storyline on "Glee" captures something larger that we are seeing with a new generation of allies (allies are people who support LGBT rights but aren't LGBT themselves).—
David M. Hall
David M. Hall3
: a plant or animal linked to another by genetic or taxonomic proximity
ferns and their allies
-ally
3 of 3adverb suffix
: -ly entry 2
terrifically
—in adverbs formed from adjectives in -ic with no alternative form in -ical
Synonyms
Examples of ally in a Sentence
Verb
There may be occasions when America can ally with some of those states, as we did during the Gulf War.
—Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
Teresa's right to teach, however, would not be vindicated until our time when the late Paul VI named her a doctor of the church. In her own lifetime Teresa had the good sense to ally herself with outstanding supporters such as the observant Franciscan Peter Alcantara and the famous Dominican theologian, Domenico Báñez.
—Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, 28 Jan. 2000
The singers ally themselves with a gifted songwriter, and everyone gets some major-label exposure for what just happens to be a splendid album.
—Michael Azerrad, Rolling Stone, 13-27 July 1995
Generally, however, psychoanalysts do ally themselves with two positions, the first of which is that dreams are meaningful.
—Wynn Schwartz, Dreamtime and Dreamwork, 1990
She's allied herself with the moderates on this issue.
countries allying themselves with the EU
He'll even admit that he's hoping to ally himself to a wealthy family by marriage.
They've allied with their former enemies.
Noun
When the Soviets pulled out in early 1989, the ensuing power vacuum turned former allies into enemies. The Muslim fighters known as mujahideen, who were unified in their struggle against the Soviets, disbanded and fought one another for control of Kabul in a devastating civil war.
—Jiffer Bourguignon, Saveur, March 2008
Our allies would need us more than we would need them, so we could count on them to rally to our side in a crunch.
—Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
These groups have learned from experience that the media are their most valuable ally. Publicity increases tips that fuel an investigation, and many communities have launched special-alert systems in the past few years to get news of an abduction on the air within minutes.
—Andrew Murr, Newsweek, 29 July 2002
fought with the Allies in World War II
She's counting on her allies in the state legislature.
Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
Teresa's right to teach, however, would not be vindicated until our time when the late Paul VI named her a doctor of the church. In her own lifetime Teresa had the good sense to ally herself with outstanding supporters such as the observant Franciscan Peter Alcantara and the famous Dominican theologian, Domenico Báñez.
—Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, 28 Jan. 2000
The singers ally themselves with a gifted songwriter, and everyone gets some major-label exposure for what just happens to be a splendid album.
—Michael Azerrad, Rolling Stone, 13-27 July 1995
Generally, however, psychoanalysts do ally themselves with two positions, the first of which is that dreams are meaningful.
—Wynn Schwartz, Dreamtime and Dreamwork, 1990
She's allied herself with the moderates on this issue.
countries allying themselves with the EU
He'll even admit that he's hoping to ally himself to a wealthy family by marriage.
They've allied with their former enemies.
Noun
When the Soviets pulled out in early 1989, the ensuing power vacuum turned former allies into enemies. The Muslim fighters known as mujahideen, who were unified in their struggle against the Soviets, disbanded and fought one another for control of Kabul in a devastating civil war.
—Jiffer Bourguignon, Saveur, March 2008
Our allies would need us more than we would need them, so we could count on them to rally to our side in a crunch.
—Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
These groups have learned from experience that the media are their most valuable ally. Publicity increases tips that fuel an investigation, and many communities have launched special-alert systems in the past few years to get news of an abduction on the air within minutes.
—Andrew Murr, Newsweek, 29 July 2002
fought with the Allies in World War II
She's counting on her allies in the state legislature.
Recent Examples on the WebJohn Yoon, New York Times, 10 May 2024
If no single party wins an outright majority, then the leading party will usually ally with other, smaller parties.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
What the Western Front stands for is never explained (nor how these states allied with each other).
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2024
In turn, the SAF leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has turned to Egypt and Turkey for support and has allied with Eritrea.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The war has derailed U.S.-led efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia; prompted protests and unrest in Arab states allied to the United States, like Jordan; strained Israel’s international legitimacy; and threatened to evolve into a regional conflict.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
While most followers stayed with Hak Ja Han’s mainstream Unification Church, some followed Preston and others joined Sean, who allied with another brother, Justin, the founder of a small arms company called Kahr Arms.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
And two months later, the French officially allied with the Americans in the Revolution, eventually leading to full independence from the British.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Putting restrictions on the builder’s remedy may seem an ideological 180 for Wicks and Bonta, both of whom have allied themselves with YIMBY activists.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 14 May 2024
White House allies and partners—and there is a difference between legitimate support and mutual utility—say Biden would never consider retreating from the college speeches.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 May 2024
Not only that, Rowling’s anti-trans tirades have worn thin with would-be allies, including Elon Musk.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2024
The pro-life movement and its allies are doing a lot of indispensable policy work now in the wake of Dobbs.
—Benjamin Watson, National Review, 12 May 2024
Projecting an Image of Unity Hamas and its allies deny that either Mr. Sinwar or the movement is trying to leverage further Palestinian suffering.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 12 May 2024
McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Biden's warning sent a dangerous signal to allies and foes alike.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 12 May 2024
That counteroffensive was an enormous morale boost for Ukraine and helped convince Western allies that the Kyiv government’s fight might be a winnable one.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
But the Biden administration remains focused on expanding the resettlement of key populations, including Afghan allies, the spokesperson said.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2024
Verb
John Sinclair, an activist who founded the White Panther Party, an organization allied with the Black Panthers, managed the band.
—John Yoon, New York Times, 10 May 2024
If no single party wins an outright majority, then the leading party will usually ally with other, smaller parties.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
What the Western Front stands for is never explained (nor how these states allied with each other).
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2024
In turn, the SAF leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has turned to Egypt and Turkey for support and has allied with Eritrea.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The war has derailed U.S.-led efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia; prompted protests and unrest in Arab states allied to the United States, like Jordan; strained Israel’s international legitimacy; and threatened to evolve into a regional conflict.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
While most followers stayed with Hak Ja Han’s mainstream Unification Church, some followed Preston and others joined Sean, who allied with another brother, Justin, the founder of a small arms company called Kahr Arms.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
And two months later, the French officially allied with the Americans in the Revolution, eventually leading to full independence from the British.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Putting restrictions on the builder’s remedy may seem an ideological 180 for Wicks and Bonta, both of whom have allied themselves with YIMBY activists.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
After the collapse of the communist Soviet Union and its allies in Eastern Europe, member states overturned the antisemitic resolution in 1991.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 14 May 2024
White House allies and partners—and there is a difference between legitimate support and mutual utility—say Biden would never consider retreating from the college speeches.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 May 2024
Not only that, Rowling’s anti-trans tirades have worn thin with would-be allies, including Elon Musk.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2024
The pro-life movement and its allies are doing a lot of indispensable policy work now in the wake of Dobbs.
—Benjamin Watson, National Review, 12 May 2024
Projecting an Image of Unity Hamas and its allies deny that either Mr. Sinwar or the movement is trying to leverage further Palestinian suffering.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 12 May 2024
McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Biden's warning sent a dangerous signal to allies and foes alike.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 12 May 2024
That counteroffensive was an enormous morale boost for Ukraine and helped convince Western allies that the Kyiv government’s fight might be a winnable one.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
But the Biden administration remains focused on expanding the resettlement of key populations, including Afghan allies, the spokesperson said.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ally
Cite this Entry
“Ally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ally. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
-ally
3 of 3 adverb suffix
-al·ly
(ə-)lē
Etymology
Verb
Middle English allien "unite," from early French alier (same meaning), derived from Latin al-, ad- "to" and ligare "to bind" — related to ligament
Adverb suffix
from 1-al + -ly
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