allow
verb
al·low ə-ˈlau̇ 
allowed; allowing; allows
transitive verb
1
a
: permit
doesn't allow people to smoke in his home
b
: to fail to restrain or prevent
allow the dog to roam
2
a
: to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)
allow an hour for lunch
b
: to reckon as a deduction or an addition
allow a gallon for leakage
3
: admit, concede
must allow that money causes problems in marriage
4
a
chiefly Southern US and Midland US : to be of the opinion : think
b
dialect : say, state
c
: to express an opinion —usually used with as how or that
5
chiefly Southern US and Midland US : intend, plan
intransitive verb
1
: to make a possibility : admit —used with of
evidence that allows of only one conclusion
2
: to give consideration to circumstances or contingencies —used with for
a plan that allows for expansion
3
: to give an opportunity : permit
She worked on the project here and there as time allowed.
This should take 5 minutes for 1 strength-cardio circuit combo. If time allows, repeat once more for a 10-minute workout or twice more for a 15-minute workout.
Tracy Teare
Tracy TeareThis plan is being implemented in phases as funding allows. Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Courier
Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Courier
Synonyms
- green-light
- have
- permit
- suffer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a religion that does not allow divorce They don't allow smoking in this hotel. I want to change my schedule, but my boss won't allow it. My boss wouldn't allow me to change my schedule. They don't allow people to smoke in this hotel. Women were not allowed in the club. The hospital doesn't allow visitors after 8 p.m. Her schedule doesn't allow her any time to run errands. The system allows you to transfer data easily from one computer to another. Occasional gaps allow passage through the mountains. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Private schools that receive vouchers, don't allow us as taxpayers to see where those dollars are being used. Renata Cló, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Don't allow sunk costs to lead to future costs, either. Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 Chace didn’t allow a run on his 74 pitches, giving up just two hits and a walk. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2022 California previously did not allow an open water lifeguard to take a job at a local pool or aquatics center because each require different certifications. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 The judge didn't allow the testimony but scheduled another hearing for Sept. 21. Jim Salter, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 Auburn’s secondary can’t allow too many big plays when the competition gets more challenging. al, 9 Sep. 2022 The most popular at-home genetic testing companies do not allow genetic genealogists to access their databases, and law enforcement can only pull a DNA profile with a warrant. Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 The Sun didn’t allow the Sky to score over the last 4:46, while finishing on an 18-0 run. Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Renata Cló, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Don't allow sunk costs to lead to future costs, either. Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 Chace didn’t allow a run on his 74 pitches, giving up just two hits and a walk. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2022 California previously did not allow an open water lifeguard to take a job at a local pool or aquatics center because each require different certifications. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 The judge didn't allow the testimony but scheduled another hearing for Sept. 21. Jim Salter, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 Auburn’s secondary can’t allow too many big plays when the competition gets more challenging. al, 9 Sep. 2022 The most popular at-home genetic testing companies do not allow genetic genealogists to access their databases, and law enforcement can only pull a DNA profile with a warrant. Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 The Sun didn’t allow the Sky to score over the last 4:46, while finishing on an 18-0 run. Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English alowen, allowen "to commend, approve of, legally recognize, permit, take into account, compensate," borrowed from Anglo-French aluer, aloer "to place, allot, commend, accept as legally valid, permit, take into account, assess," probably in part from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + loer "to praise," going back to Latin laudāre; in part going back to Medieval Latin allocāre "to place, admit, credit" — more at laud entry 2, allocate
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(t)
Phrases Containing allow
Kids Definition
allow
verb
al·low ə-ˈlau̇
allowed; allowing
1
: to give permission to
Mom allowed us to stay up late.
2
: to fail to prevent
Don't allow the dog to roam.
3
: to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)
Our parents allowed us each five dollars to spend.
4
: to accept as true : concede
I'm willing to allow that he may be right.
5
: to consider when making a decision or a calculation
Our plans didn't allow for the possibility of rain.
6
: to make it possible to have or do something
Your shoes should be big enough to allow for growth.
Legal Definition
allow
transitive verb
al·low ə-ˈlau̇
: to give approval of or permission for: as
a
: to grant fulfillment of
allowed her petition for relief
b
: to decide in favor of
allow a deduction on a tax return
c
: to permit to be presented
allows his claim
more jurisdictions will allow the cause of action
allowing 1 of 2
noun
as in letting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- letting
- permitting
- granting
- permission
- consent
- sanction
- leave
- enabling
- sanctioning
- licensing
- clearance
- allowance
- approval
- tolerance
- authorization
- toleration
- license
- licence
- licencing
- support
- approbation
- okay
- encouragement
- sufferance
- prescription
- imprimatur
- endorsement
- facilitation
- promotion
- indorsement
- blessing
- OK
- submission
- acquiescence
- assent
- compliance
- agreement
- obedience
- accession
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ban
- prohibition
- veto
- interdict
- embargo
- interdiction
- proscription
- restriction
- limitation
- inhibition
- restraint
- taboo
- constraint
- tabu
- no-no
allowing
2 of 2verb
1
as in permitting
to give permission for or to approve of flash photography is not allowed inside the church Synonyms & Similar Words
- permitting
- having
- tolerating
- authorizing
- standing for
- admitting
- suffering
- green-lighting
- granting
- licensing
- commissioning
- acquiescing
- according
- conceding
- sanctioning
- okaying
- warranting
- supporting
- condoning
- vouchsafing
- enduring
- countenancing
- licencing
- brooking
- agreeing (to)
- consenting (to)
- assenting (to)
- acceding (to)
- OK'ing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prohibiting
- forbidding
- banning
- hindering
- enjoining
- refusing
- impeding
- proscribing
- denying
- obstructing
- vetoing
- rejecting
- suppressing
- revoking
- withholding
- censuring
- disapproving
- keeping
- disallowing
- checking
- restraining
- curbing
- interdicting
- disliking
- deploring
- frowning (at or on)
- repressing
- grudging
- disfavoring
- discountenancing
2
as in leaving
to give permission to a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission Synonyms & Similar Words
- letting
- permitting
- leaving
- authorizing
- empowering
- approving
- licensing
- sanctioning
- endorsing
- freeing
- commissioning
- liberating
- humoring
- licencing
- indulging
- indorsing
- releasing
- catering (to)
- giving in (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prohibiting
- forbidding
- preventing
- enjoining
- discouraging
- blocking
- inhibiting
- barring
- obstructing
- curbing
- deterring
- impeding
- constraining
- holding back
- frustrating
3
as in tolerating
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
- letting
- permitting
- tolerating
- ignoring
- suffering
- condoning
- forgiving
- disregarding
- putting up with
- excusing
- overlooking
- humoring
- shrugging off
- pardoning
- indulging
- brooking
- brushing (aside or off)
- winking (at)
- catering (to)
- giving in (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- preventing
- blocking
- prohibiting
- barring
- forbidding
- constraining
- inhibiting
- discouraging
- interfering (with)
- curbing
- impeding
- deterring
- holding back
- frustrating
4
as in admitting
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly I'll allow I probably said more than I should have Synonyms & Similar Words
- admitting
- confessing
- granting
- agreeing
- acknowledging
- conceding
- announcing
- revealing
- disclosing
- recognizing
- telling
- confirming
- accepting
- affirming
- exposing
- informing
- yielding
- declaring
- imparting
- unloading
- owning (up to)
- saying
- coming clean (about)
- spilling
- unburdening
- publishing
- professing
- avowing
- communicating
- betraying
- talking
- warning
- proclaiming
- fessing (up)
- divulging
- broadcasting
- disburdening
- breathing
- giving away
- whispering
- unveiling
- leaking
- breaking
- ratting
- tattling
- squealing
- blabbing
- tipping (off)
- wising (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denying
- negating
- contradicting
- disclaiming
- disavowing
- disallowing
- rejecting
- disputing
- concealing
- refuting
- covering (up)
- obscuring
- hiding
- disowning
- rebutting
- repudiating
- negativing
- veiling
- kidding (oneself)
- gainsaying
5
as in allotting
to give as a share or portion allowed each camper one match to light his fire Synonyms & Similar Words
- allotting
- assigning
- allocating
- distributing
- giving
- dividing
- apportioning
- granting
- lotting
- rationing
- splitting
- dealing
- measuring
- according
- awarding
- dispensing
- administering
- contributing
- reserving
- prorating
- handing out
- parting
- portioning
- doling out
- donating
- metering
- earmarking
- redistributing
- reassigning
- reapportioning
- admeasuring
- parcelling (out)
- reallocating
- parceling (out)
- sharing (out)
- meting (out)
- chipping in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denying
- retaining
- keeping
- depriving (of)
- withholding
- begrudging
- appropriating
- stinting
- arrogating
- confiscating
6
as in enabling
to make able or possible a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls Synonyms & Similar Words
- enabling
- letting
- permitting
- empowering
- preparing
- approving
- equipping
- readying
- sanctioning
- endorsing
- habilitating
- qualifying
- fitting
- conditioning
- indorsing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- preventing
- precluding
- prohibiting
- inhibiting
- forbidding
- disallowing
- enjoining
7
as in reflecting
to make a statement of one's opinion he allowed that their new house looked very nice Synonyms & Similar Words
- reflecting
- commenting
- remarking
- noting
- opining
- saying
- observing
- weighing in
- editorializing
- stating
- speaking
- commentating
- verbalizing
- telling
- articulating
- speculating
- talking
- uttering
- expressing
- supposing
- vocalizing
- surmising
- guessing
- conjecturing
- daresaying
8
as in believing
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
- believing
- thinking
- considering
- figuring
- imagining
- guessing
- deeming
- supposing
- feeling
- holding
- judging
- conceiving
- assuming
- perceiving
- regarding
- accepting
- presuming
- relying
- viewing
- trusting
- depending
- reckoning
- esteeming
- inferring
- presupposing
- concluding
- deducing
- surmising
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- questioning
- doubting
- suspecting
- rejecting
- discrediting
- distrusting
- mistrusting
- disbelieving
9
as in intending
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
- intending
- planning
- hoping
- aiming
- trying
- going
- meaning
- wishing
- contemplating
- looking
- proposing
- attempting
- purporting
- designing
- purposing
- aspiring
- calculating
- meditating
- considering
- struggling
- figuring on
- effecting
- striving
- dreaming
- endeavoring
- debating
- pondering
- plotting
- achieving
- accomplishing
- executing
- performing
- scheming
- mulling (over)
- self-plagiarism
- self-plagiarisms
- self-pleased
- self-pleasing
- self-poise
- self-poised
- self-pol
- self-policing
- self-pollinate
- self-pollinated
- self-pollinates
- self-pollinating
- self-pollination
- self-portrait
- self-possessed
- self-possessedly
- self-possession
- self-potential method
- self-powered
- self-praise
- self-pre
- self-preoccupation
- self-preoccupied
- self-pres
- self-preservation