Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

allow

[uh-lou] / əˈlaʊ /




Usage

What are other ways to say allow?

Allow and permit are often interchangeable as terms that imply granting or conceding the right of someone to do something, but permit is the more positive of the two. Allow implies complete absence of an attempt, or even an intent, to hinder. Permit suggests formal or implied assent or authorization. Let is the familiar, conversational term for both allow and permit.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“It starts with me. I’ve got to play better and allow our offense to score more points.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Night rides must be booked days in advance to allow for security screenings, and capacity caps meant to prevent poaching and limit disruptions to the animals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Waiting would allow me to process the actual information in the insurance company’s message, and to calm down.

From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026

The country, he said, would "not look away when we see violations of the very international rules that allow us to live in peace".

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

“I wish I could go home, but your father would never allow it,” said Roz.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

“But we also need a predictable, durable permitting framework that allows all projects to move forward in a timely way so we can keep adding affordable power to the grid.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

For Benwell, that approach allows families to enjoy the excitement of discovery while ensuring the region's remarkable fungi can be appreciated by everyone who passes by.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Microsoft’s approach allows companies to use switch frontier models based on which one is best suited for different types of tasks.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

The city’s matching fund program allows candidates to receive $6 in public funds for every $1 they receive from local contributors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

The card allows noncitizens the opportunity to work in the United States, and it also enables them to acquire a Social Security number.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Her new parternship with 20-year-old Lexi Potter is flourishing and has allowed Walsh to get further up the pitch and play with more freedom.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

"My uncle liked hats. I don't, so I allowed myself to change the rules a bit," she said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

It gave up 504 yards to Oregon, the third-most it had allowed over the past three seasons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

The group was “conceived as national service carried on through business…and the structure of its ownership is what has allowed it to remain so,” Tata said at the board meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Laughing because I was home; crying because Father and Betsie, the only two people she had ever allowed herself to love, would never be.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

“If Tata Sons is not listed, and this structure, currently, is not allowing you to raise capital, how are you going to fund such large-size investments?” said Choksey.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Scrolls found to contain lead could then be prioritized for CT scanning, potentially allowing many more texts to be recovered and building on the work of Seales and his collaborators.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

Major airlines including JetBlue, United and American issued travel alerts allowing passengers to change their flights without incurring fees.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Back on stage at Mount Temple, Bono paid tribute to his alma matter for allowing the band to flourish.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Fancy not being able to read, and allowing Sela to write out a message!

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques




Vocabulary lists containing allow


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training