affordverb
uk/əˈfɔːd/us/əˈfɔːrd/afford verb (HAVE ENOUGH)
can afford
More examples
- We couldn't afford to pay the lawyer's fee.
- We can't afford another trip abroad this year.
- How can he afford to buy himself a brand new car?
- Don't be so ridiculous! I can't possibly afford to go on holiday.
- Building a dam would be a use of financial resources which this country cannot afford.
B1 to be able to buy or do something because you have enough money or time:
I don't know how he can afford a new car on his salary.
Few people are able to afford cars like that.
She couldn't afford the time off work to see him.
[ + to infinitive ] I can't afford to buy a house.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Paying money
- ante
- chargeable
- congestion charge
- demurrage
- disburse
- discharge
- disgorge
- fork
- fork out sth
- overspend
- pay up
- pick up the bill/tab idiom
- put sth down 1
- repayable
- self-financing
- sink
- spring
- square
- tip
- worth
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afford verb (GIVE)
[ T ] formal to allow someone to have something pleasant or necessary:
The hut afforded little protection from the elements.
[ + two objects ] Her seat afforded her an uninterrupted view of the stage.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving, providing and supplying
- accommodate
- accord
- administer
- administration
- assignment
- award
- deliver
- go round (somewhere)
- hand sth around
- hand sth back
- hand sth in
- hand sth out
- invest
- lay
- spare
- stake sb to sth
- step
- step forward
- supplier
- supply
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Idiom(s)
cannot afford