afford

[ uh-fawrd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect:

   The country can't afford another drought.

2. to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of:

   Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.

3. to be able to give or spare:

   He can't afford the loss of a day.

4. to furnish; supply:

   The transaction afforded him a good profit.

5. to be capable of yielding or providing:

   The records afford no explanation.

6. to give or confer upon:

   to afford great pleasure to someone.

afford

/ əˈfɔːd /

verb

1. preceded bycan, could, etc to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences

   I can afford to give you one of my chess sets

   we can't afford to miss this play

   we can afford to buy a small house

2. to give, yield, or supply

   the meeting afforded much useful information

Derived Forms

• afˌfordaˈbility, noun
• afˈfordable, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afford¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English aforthen, iforthen, Old English geforthian “to further, accomplish,” equivalent to ge- y- + forth forth + -ian infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of afford¹

Old English geforthian to further, promote, from forth forth ; the Old English prefix ge- was later reduced to a-, and the modern spelling (C16) is influenced by words beginning aff-

Example Sentences

Department of Agriculture revealed that nearly 18 million families — 13.5% of U.S. households — struggled to afford enough food.

From Salon

A mum with kids requiring refrigerated medicines for cancer rang up with her voice cracking because she could not afford her £5 prepayment top-up and asked to be put onto a credit direct debit.

From BBC

He’s one of baseball’s best young players, he raked the Dodgers for a 1.084 OPS in the World Series, he was everything Aaron Judge was not, and heaven knows the Dodgers can afford him.

From Los Angeles Times

People who can afford to temporarily leave the city do that, those who can buy air purifiers do that, and those who can vent on social media do that.

From BBC

L.A. leaders approve employee raises the city can’t afford and then cut staffing and services while hoping for an economic boom to lift tax revenue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grant
• offer
• provide