Meaning of allow in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /əˈlaʊ/

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  1. Verb

    allow

    Etymology

    Middle English (originally in the senses ‘commend, sanction’ and ‘assign as a right’): from Old French alouer, from Latin allaudare‘to praise’, reinforced by medieval Latin allocare‘to place’ (see allocate)

    Definitions

    1. make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

    Examples

    • « This permits the water to rush in »
    • « This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement »
    • « This will permit the rain to run off »

    Antonyms

  2. 2. consent to, give permission

    Examples

    • « She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband »
    • « I won't let the police search her basement »
    • « I cannot allow you to see your exam »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  3. 3. let have

    Examples

    • « grant permission »
    • « Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  4. 4. give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause

    Examples

    • « I will earmark this money for your research »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. make a possibility or provide opportunity for

    Examples

    • « permit to be attainable or cause to remain »
    • « This leaves no room for improvement »
    • « The evidence allows only one conclusion »
    • « allow for mistakes »
    • « leave lots of time for the trip »
    • « This procedure provides »
  6. 6. allow or plan for a certain possibility

    Examples

    • « concede the truth or validity of something »
    • « I allow for this possibility »
    • « The seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash »
  7. 7. afford possibility

    Examples

    • « This problem admits of no solution »
    • « This short story allows of several different interpretations »
  8. 8. allow the other (baseball) team to score

    Examples

    • « give up a run »
  9. 9. grant as a discount or in exchange

    Examples

    • « The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera »
  10. 10. allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting

    Examples

    • « We don't allow dogs here »
    • « Children are not permitted beyond this point »
    • « We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « We must not allow the liberals to move us away from the conservative values of the American past which sustain our present and shall secure our future. As for me and my family, we will serve God, we will serve this constitutional republic, we will serve America. »
    Allen West
  • « Terrorism takes us back to ages we thought were long gone if we allow it a free hand to corrupt democratic societies and destroy the basic rules of international life. »
    Jacques Chirac
  • « When the news is good, the BBC view is: 'Get the government out of the picture quickly, don't allow them to say anything about it.' When the news is bad: 'Let's all dump on the government.' »
    Iain Duncan Smith
  • « Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose - and you allow him to make war at pleasure. »
    Abraham Lincoln
  • « I made a mistake by being ejected from the presidency. Next time, I will choose a Cabinet which will allow me to be life President. »
    Nelson Mandela

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