allow for

phrasal verb

allowed for; allowing for; allows for
1
: to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
When purchasing property, the company should allow for possible future growth/expansion.
2
: to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
The total distance, allowing for detours, is about 10 miles.
If you allow for inflation, he's actually earning less money now than he was 10 years ago.
3
: to make (something) possible
The design of the system allows for easy upgrades.

Examples of allow for in a Sentence

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Provide these tools with as much context as possible about the endpoint (location, department, etc.) to allow for better incident identification. Douglas Murray, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Only five states—Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York and West Virginia—recognize Election Day as a public holiday and enforce a requirement for employers to allow for time off to vote. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 While cellular devices can enhance connectivity and allow for shared experiences, overuse of mobile phones at social gatherings can detract from interactions that make events intimate. Meredith Ogilvie-Thompson, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 These effects also allow for extended hangtime, permitting grapes to come to full ripeness without sacrificing freshness. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for allow for 

Dictionary Entries Near allow for

Cite this Entry

“Allow for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow%20for. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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