afford

verb

af·​ford ə-ˈfȯrd 

afforded; affording; affords

transitive verb

1

a

: to manage to bear without serious detriment

You can't afford to neglect your health.

b

: to be able to bear the cost of

can't afford to be out of work long

2

: to make available, give forth, or provide naturally or inevitably

The sun affords warmth to the earth.

a delay that will afford us more time

Synonyms

• go
• swing

Choose the Right Synonym for afford

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession.

give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

Examples of afford in a Sentence

We were too poor to afford a doctor.

He'll be able to afford a house next year.

Don't spend more than you can afford.

They couldn't afford new coats for the children.

We can afford waiting a while longer.

All of the rooms afford views of the lake.

He was afforded the opportunity to work for a judge.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, with the Niners’ defense undefined and its defensive line play underwhelming, San Francisco cannot afford to be a mediocre offense in the second half of the season. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

In the absence of changes to entitlement spending, which Trump has promised not to make, the best way to afford necessary upgrades to U.S. defenses is to expand GDP with growth-friendly policies on taxes and regulation. —Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024

With an offseason ahead that very well may include losing Juan Soto, the Yankees could not afford to lose Cole as well. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

She was born in 1941, just on the far side of the Depression, to parents who couldn’t afford to feed their family. —Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

respelling (after Latin borrowings with initial aff-) of Middle English iforthen, aforthen, going back to Old English geforðian "to send out, promote, carry out," from ge-, perfective prefix + forðian "to send out, promote," verbal derivative of forþ "forth, forward" — more at com-, forth entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing afford

• ill afford

Kids Definition

afford

verb

af·​ford ə-ˈfōrd 

-ˈfȯrd

1

: to be able to do or to bear without serious harm

you can't afford to waste your strength

2

: to be able to pay for

unable to afford a new car

3

: to supply one with : provide, furnish

tennis affords good exercise

affordable

-ˈfōrd-ə-bəl 

-ˈfȯrd-

adjective