1
as in to permit
to give permission for or to approve of
flash photography is not allowed inside the church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to let
to give permission to
a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tolerate
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference
only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to admit
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
I'll allow I probably said more than I should have
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to allot
to give as a share or portion
allowed each camper one match to light his fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to enable
to make able or possible
a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to reflect
to make a statement of one's opinion
he allowed that their new house looked very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in to think
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have as an opinion
people in these parts allow that everyone is entitled to one mistake in life, even if it's a doozy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in to intend
chiefly Southern & Midland
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I allow to go hunting before the season is over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of allow
Experts say this allows children to explore their gender and determine the appropriate course of action.
—
Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
The dream inspired a personal story that allowed her father to live with the filmmaker just a little while longer.
—Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2024, both Finland and Poland passed legislation that allows border officials to turn back asylum seekers at their land borders.
—Amy Pope, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Those negotiations helped improve logistics, allowing the United States to increase deportation flights to countries in the Western Hemisphere, as well as to places, including China, that previously refused to accept their citizens.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allow 
Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
The dream inspired a personal story that allowed her father to live with the filmmaker just a little while longer.
—Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2024, both Finland and Poland passed legislation that allows border officials to turn back asylum seekers at their land borders.
—Amy Pope, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Those negotiations helped improve logistics, allowing the United States to increase deportation flights to countries in the Western Hemisphere, as well as to places, including China, that previously refused to accept their citizens.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for allow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allow
Verb
-
Most Japanese stars who leave for the United States do so after 25, when they are permitted to sign a free-agent contract like Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million megadeal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
-
The study instantly became a formal part of DOE permit proceedings that Trump would have to address, Public Citizen attorney Tyson Slocum told Axios' Ben Geman. 2.Ben Geman, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Campbell wouldn’t let the players — or himself, for that matter — soak in last season’s stirring run to the NFC Championship Game.Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
-
Close your eyes and let your imagination run wild on all the ways to address a problem.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, pictured on January 3, 2025, has said the EU will not tolerate attacks on its territory after Donald Trump called for the U.S. to take control of Greenland.Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025
-
Not surprisingly, reporting struggles abound and are only exacerbated by boards which tolerate excuse-making and blame-shifting rationalizations.Noah Barsky, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Fire officials have admitted they were overwhelmed by the size and speed of the fire.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
-
Speaking at the Institut Français de la Mode’s recent Fashion Reboot seminar, the executive admitted that GenAI has already crept into the design process to a large extent.Joelle Diderich, WWD, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
About $6 billion of grant funding has been allotted to the project, which will take up around 6,500 square feet of the high school, according to Callender.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
-
Because there are generally more applicants than visas available, visas are allotted by a lottery conducted after preapplications are filed in April, six months before the start of the fiscal year.Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Calmer winds enabled firefighters to start gaining some control of the biggest blazes in metropolitan Los Angeles on Friday before gusty weather returns over the weekend to an area that hasn't seen rain in more than eight months.MANUEL VALDES, JULIE WATSON, JOHN SEEWER AND HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025
-
By partnering with providers that share their eco-conscious values, Guide to Iceland enables travelers to explore responsibly.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Interest income from loans decreased to $18.5 million from $35.1 million, reflecting a reduction in loan receivable balances.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2025
-
The seats of honor reflect the friendly position the three richest men in the world have taken toward the second Trump administration.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Many economists think this predicament is best addressed via a weaker yuan.William Pesek, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
-
The first step businesses must take is to stop thinking about digital experiences as a competitor to the real world, designed to increase time on a screen.Olof Schybergson, Fortune Asia, 8 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to allow
Thesaurus Entries Near allow
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allow. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share