if you can afford something, you have enough money to be able to pay for it. This word usually follows ‘can’, ‘could’, or ‘be able to’
I’m not sure how they are able to afford such expensiveholidays.
We need a biggerhouse, but we just can’t afford the rent.
can/can’t afford to do something:
The companysimply cannot afford to payovertime.
Synonyms and related words
To have just enough money
afford
eke out
subsist
2
if you can afford something you can do it without having to worry about it causing problems for you. This word always follows ‘can’, ‘could’, or ‘be able to’
Scientists are going abroad, taking with them skills that our country can ill afford (=cannot afford) to lose.
I’m so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restfulweekend.
can/can’t/be unable to afford to do something:
No politician can afford to ignore the power of television.
Synonyms and related words
Safe and harmless
safe
harmless
secure
3
formalto provide something
afford protection/shelter:
The vaccination also affordsprotection against polio.
afford someone something:
Letterssurvive that afford us a glimpse into his everydaylife.
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip
afford
verb transitive
US /əˈfɔrd/
Other entries for this word
can ill afford (to do) somethingphrase
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
afford
he/she/it
affords
present participle
affording
past tense
afforded
past participle
afforded
DEFINITIONS3
1
if you can afford something, you have enough money to be able to pay for it. This word usually follows “can,” “could,” or “be able to”
I’m not sure how they are able to afford such expensivevacations.
We need a biggerhouse, but we just can’t afford the rent.
can/can’t afford to do something:
The companysimply cannot afford to payovertime.
Synonyms and related words
To have just enough money
afford
eke out
subsist
2
if you can afford something you can do it without having to worry about it causing problems for you. This word always follows “can,” “could,” or “be able to”
Scientists are going abroad, taking with them skills that our country can ill afford (=cannot afford) to lose.
I’m so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restfulweekend.
can/can’t/be unable to afford to do something:
No politician can afford to ignore the power of television.
Synonyms and related words
Safe and harmless
safe
harmless
secure
3
formalto provide something
afford protection/shelter:
The vaccination also affordsprotection against polio.
afford someone something:
Letterssurvive that afford us a glimpse into his everydaylife.