allow

[ uh-lou ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give permission to or for; permit:

   to allow a student to be absent;

   No swimming allowed.

   Antonyms: prohibit, forbid

2. to let have; give as one's share; grant as one's right:

   to allow a person $100 for expenses.

3. to permit by neglect, oversight, or the like:

   to allow a door to remain open.

4. to admit; acknowledge; concede:

   to allow a claim.

5. to take into consideration, as by adding or subtracting; set apart:

   to allow an hour for changing trains.

6. Older Use. to say; think.
7. Archaic. to approve; sanction.

verb (used without object)

1. to permit something to happen or to exist; admit (often followed by of ): a premise that allows of only one conclusion.

   to spend more than one's budget allows;

   a premise that allows of only one conclusion.

allow

/ əˈlaʊ /

verb

1. tr to permit (to do something); let
2. tr to set aside

   five hours were allowed to do the job

3. tr to let enter or stay

   they don't allow dogs

4. tr to acknowledge or concede (a point, claim, etc)
5. tr to let have; grant

   he was allowed few visitors

6. intrfoll byfor to take into account

   allow for delays

7. introften foll byof to permit; admit

   a question that allows of only one reply

8. dialect.
   tr; may take a clause as object to assert; maintain
9. archaic.
   tr to approve; accept

Other Words From

• preal·low verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of allow¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English alowen, from Anglo-French al(l)o(u)er “to place, allot, allow,” Old French aloer “to place,” from Late Latin allocāre; al-, locus; the older sense “approve, sanction” and Middle English sense “praise” probably by taking the Anglo-French verb as representing Medieval Latin, Latin adlaudāre “to praise”; ad-, laud

Word History and Origins

Origin of allow¹

C14: from Old French alouer, from Late Latin allaudāre to extol, influenced by Medieval Latin allocāre to assign, allocate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. allow for, to make concession or provision for:

   to allow for breakage.

Example Sentences

The bill, which was published this week, would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their life.

From BBC

Last week, Nesbitt said the latest allocation of money by the executive would not allow him to match pay deals in other parts of the UK.

From BBC

The government brought in rules to allow certain prisoners to be released earlier to deal with what it said was a "crisis in prison places".

From BBC

The song includes the lyric, “Allow me to reintroduce myself.”

From Los Angeles Times

Her win is the biggest political upset on the Eastside since Chicano activist Raul Ruiz siphoned off enough votes from Richard Alatorre in a 1971 Assembly race to allow a Republican to win.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• approve
• authorize
• favor
• oblige
• recognize
• release
• support
• tolerate