Synonyms of allow

allow

verb

ə-ˈlau̇ 

1

as in to permit

to give permission for or to approve of

flash photography is not allowed inside the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

• permit
• have
• tolerate
• green-light
• suffer
• stand for
• authorize
• admit
• okay
• license
• acquiesce
• agree (to)
• concede
• grant
• consent (to)
• OK
• sanction
• commission
• accede (to)
• assent (to)
• endure
• warrant
• condone
• licence
• vouchsafe
• support
• countenance
• accord
• brook

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• hinder
• impede
• ban
• refuse
• obstruct
• veto
• deny
• withhold
• reject
• disallow
• suppress
• revoke
• proscribe
• disapprove
• keep
• restrain
• check
• censure
• dislike
• deplore
• curb
• repress
• interdict
• frown (at or on)
• discountenance
• grudge
• disfavor

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

• let
• permit
• leave
• authorize
• empower
• approve
• endorse
• license
• indorse
• sanction
• liberate
• licence
• indulge
• commission
• cater (to)
• give in (to)
• free
• humor
• release

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• discourage
• prevent
• deter
• impede
• inhibit
• block
• bar
• curb
• constrain
• obstruct
• frustrate
• hold back

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

• let
• tolerate
• permit
• ignore
• suffer
• put up with
• forgive
• condone
• disregard
• overlook
• excuse
• brush (aside or off)
• pardon
• indulge
• cater (to)
• give in (to)
• wink (at)
• shrug off
• brook
• humor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevent
• prohibit
• block
• bar
• forbid
• constrain
• discourage
• deter
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• curb
• frustrate
• hold back

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

• admit
• confess
• acknowledge
• concede
• agree
• grant
• announce
• reveal
• disclose
• recognize
• own (up to)
• tell
• accept
• confirm
• declare
• unload
• affirm
• inform
• say
• come clean (about)
• expose
• impart
• publish
• profess
• communicate
• warn
• yield
• proclaim
• divulge
• betray
• fess (up)
• talk
• unburden
• spill
• breathe
• disburden
• broadcast
• avow
• unveil
• give away
• whisper
• break
• tip (off)
• leak
• wise (up)
• blab
• tattle
• squeal
• rat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• disallow
• contradict
• reject
• negate
• negative
• disclaim
• conceal
• dispute
• hide
• refute
• rebut
• cover (up)
• disavow
• repudiate
• disown
• obscure
• veil
• gainsay
• kid (oneself)

5

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion

allowed each camper one match to light his fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• allot
• assign
• allocate
• distribute
• give
• lot
• apportion
• ration
• divide
• dispense
• measure
• split
• administer
• grant
• portion
• deal
• share (out)
• contribute
• prorate
• hand out
• award
• part
• donate
• reserve
• dole out
• mete (out)
• earmark
• meter
• redistribute
• reassign
• accord
• parcel (out)
• reallocate
• admeasure
• reapportion
• chip in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• retain
• keep
• deprive (of)
• withhold
• begrudge
• stint
• appropriate
• confiscate
• arrogate

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

• enable
• let
• empower
• permit
• prepare
• ready
• equip
• approve
• qualify
• endorse
• sanction
• fit
• indorse
• condition
• habilitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevent
• preclude
• inhibit
• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• disallow

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

• reflect
• comment
• remark
• opine
• observe
• note
• say
• weigh in
• editorialize
• commentate
• speak
• speculate
• state
• verbalize
• tell
• express
• talk
• suppose
• utter
• articulate
• surmise
• guess
• daresay
• vocalize
• conjecture

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

• think
• believe
• consider
• guess
• imagine
• suppose
• deem
• feel
• figure
• hold
• judge
• conceive
• perceive
• accept
• assume
• reckon
• rely
• presume
• regard
• depend
• view
• esteem
• trust
• infer
• conclude
• presuppose
• deduce
• surmise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doubt
• suspect
• question
• reject
• discredit
• distrust
• mistrust
• disbelieve

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

• intend
• plan
• try
• go
• contemplate
• hope
• mean
• aim
• wish
• look
• propose
• calculate
• purpose
• purport
• aspire
• attempt
• design
• consider
• meditate
• figure on
• strive
• dream
• struggle
• achieve
• perform
• accomplish
• ponder
• execute
• debate
• endeavor
• scheme
• effect
• mull (over)
• plot

Examples of allow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s in the 5-count indictment against Eric Adams Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker allowed Adams to be released after the hearing – but with caveats. —Gregory Krieg, CNN, 27 Sep. 2024

To manage potentially long lines that could quickly frustrate impatient shoppers, Ami will allow customers to order on the café’s dedicated WeChat Mini Program. —Denni Hu, WWD, 27 Sep. 2024

While some lenders may charge for this privilege, every lender on this list allows its loans to be paid back early with no prepayment penalties. —Ryley Amond, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2024

Meirav Cohen, a member of Knesset from the centrist Yesh Atid party, lambasted the government for allowing aid trucks into Gaza. —Mick Krever, CNN, 22 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing allow

• allow (for)
• allow (of)