Dictionary

allow en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /əˈlaʊ/
• ə-lou'
• (UK) audio
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin laus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin laudō Latin allaudō Old French aloer ▲ Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *stel-der. Proto-Italic *stlokos? Old Latin stlocus Latin locus ▲ Latin -ō Latin locō Latin allocō Old French aloer Anglo-Norman alouerbor. Middle English allowen English allow From Middle English allowen, alowen, a borrowing from Anglo-Norman allouer, alouer, from Medieval Latin allaudāre, merged with alouer, from Medieval Latin allocō (“to assign”). Doublet of allaud (via allaudāre) or allocate (via allocāre). The similarity with Middle English alyfen (from Old English ālīefan) and German erlauben, both from Proto-Germanic *uzlaubijaną (“to allow”) is unrelated.

Meanings

1. (ditransitive) To let one have as a suitable share of something.
   • to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest
   • […] he needed a great deal of money, but his uncle only allowed him two thousand roubles a year, which was not enough, and for days together he would run about Moscow with his tongue out, as the saying is. 2004 [1895], Constance, transl. Garnett, “Ariadne”, in The Darling: and Other Stories, translation of original by Anton Chekhov:
2. (intransitive) To present something as possible or reasonable.
   • The event allows of only one interpretation.
3. (catenative, transitive) To permit, to give permission to.
   • With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get[…] 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:
   • I will allow my son to be absent.
4. To not bar or obstruct.
   • Although I don't consent to their holding such meetings, I will allow them for the time being.
   • The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use. 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
   • Smoking (is) allowed only in designated areas.
5. (transitive) To acknowledge, accept the truth of; to concede; to accede to an opinion; to say something one agrees on in the context of a larger disagreement or reluctance.
   • I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct[…]was highly reprehensible. 1855, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes:
   • "Well, that rug does match the wallpaper," he allowed.
   • Mr. Knightley, I shall not allow you to be a fair judge in this case. 1815, Jane Austen, chapter 5, in Emma, volume 1:
   • Half the night passed before the wench allowed that it might be safe to stop. 2000 August 8, George R[aymond] R[ichard] Martin, “Jaime [Lannister]”, in A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire; 3), London: Voyager, →ISBN, page 127:
   • You must allow that disagreeing about politics puts a strain on a relationship.
   • to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow an appeal
6. (transitive) To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; especially to abate or deduct.
   • to allow a sum for leakage
   • How much will you allow on my old jalopy?
7. (transitive) To make an allowance, to take into account when making plans.
   • When calculating a budget for a construction project, always allow for contingencies.
8. (transitive) To render physically possible.
   • The inlet allowed a facility to bring the money in a boat secretly and at night to the very foot of the hill. 1824, Washington Irving, “The Devil and Tom Walker”, in Tales of a Traveller:
   • A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays. 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
9. (obsolete, transitive) To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction.
   • We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his learning. 1842, Thomas Fuller, Church History of Britain:
   • Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 11:48:
10. (obsolete) To sanction; to invest; to entrust.
    • Therefore so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens—thine and ours—to take The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back Of Alcibiades the approaches wild, Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up His country's peace. 1623, William Shakespeare, The Life of Timon of Athens:
11. (obsolete, transitive) To like; to be suited or pleased with.
    • How allow you the model of these clothes? 1632, Philip Massinger, Nathan Field, The Fatal Dowry, act 4, scene 1:
12. (transitive) To decide (a request) in favour of the party who raised it; to grant victory to a party regarding (a request).
    • to allow an appeal
    • to allow an objection
13. (Multicultural-London-English, transitive) To forgo bothering with, to let slide.
    • Easy on violence, now I doubt it I could’ve banged this face but allowed it 2021 November 3, “Who's My man?”, Starzzy #MostHated (lyrics), 0:30:

Forms

Antonyms

ban · prohibit · forbid

Deriveds

allowability · allow for · allower · allowance · unallowing · disallowance · allowingly · allowment · allowable · its course · allow nature to take her · allowee · allow it · reallow

Relateds

allowance · disallow

Synonyms

yield (let have) · give (let have) · accede (acknowledge the truth of) · consent (give permission) · concede (acknowledge the truth of) · grant (let have) · tolerate (not bar or obstruct) · suffer (not bar or obstruct) · grant (give permission) · let (give permission) · bestow (let have) · admit (let have) · permit (not bar or obstruct) · allot (let have) · concede (let have) · concede (not bar or obstruct) · acquiesce (acknowledge the truth of) · permit (let have) · permit (give permission) · grant licence to (give permission) · afford (let have) · admit (not bar or obstruct)

Translations (274)

fi sallia (to not bar or obstruct) · ru позволя́ть (to let one have) · he הרשה (to let one have) · cs povolit (to give permission) · km អនុញ្ញាត (to let one have) · th ให้ (to let one have) · hy թույլատրել (to let one have) · sk dovoliť (to let one have) · ru разреша́ть (to let one have) · fi tehdä varaus (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · ja 許す (to not bar or obstruct) · lo ໃຫ້ (to let one have) · lv ļaut (to let one have) · fo loyva (to let one have) · hy թույլ տալ (to let one have) · wa laire (to let one have) · uk допуска́ти (to not bar or obstruct) · ru допусти́ть (to not bar or obstruct) · ar سَمَحَ (to let one have) · ceb tugot (to let one have) · th ยอม (to let one have) · sw -kubalia (to give permission) · ru позво́лить (to let one have) · ru признава́ть (to acknowledge the truth of) · txb kälm- (to give permission) · lo ອະນຸຍາດ (to let one have) · hu elfogad (to acknowledge the truth of) · ja 認める (to let one have) · bni lingisa (to let one have) · fi myöntää (to let one have) · oc laissar (to let one have) · az izin vermək (to give permission) · de erlauben (to give permission) · hu enged (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · lo ຍອມ (to let one have) · rup las (to let one have) · mi tuku (to give permission) · hu ráhagy (to make allowance) · ro lăsa (to let one have) · el παραδέχομαι (to acknowledge the truth of) · mbb tuɣut (to let one have) · ga ceadaigh (to give permission) · hu enged (to not bar or obstruct) · pl zezwolić (to give permission) · ja 許す (to give permission) · hu számol (to make allowance) · ru позволя́ть (to give permission) · rup alas (to let one have) · hy թողնել (to let one have) · el παραδέχομαι (to not bar or obstruct) · de ermöglichen (to render physically possible) · nl toestaan (to give permission) · lld lascer (to let one have) · is leyfa (to not bar or obstruct) · ko 허락하다 (to let one have) · ast dexar (to let one have) · rm lubir (to give permission) · he הכיר באפשרות (to acknowledge the truth of) · uk ви́знати (to acknowledge the truth of) · he אפשר (to not bar or obstruct) · ja 許可する (to give permission) · et lubama (to let one have) · bg позволя́вам (to let one have) · ro admite (to not bar or obstruct) · grc ἐάω (to let one have) · la condōnō (to let one have) · bcl tugot (to let one have) · it concedere (to acknowledge the truth of) · he אפשר (to render physically possible) · mdh sugut (to let one have) · da tillade (to give permission) · wa leyî (to let one have) · el επιτρέπω (to make allowance) · is viðurkenna (to acknowledge the truth of) · it permettere (to let one have) · ga tabhair cead do (to give permission) · ru призна́ть (to acknowledge the truth of) · be дазво́ліць (to let one have) · sw -ruhusu (to not bar or obstruct) · ru принима́ть во внима́ние (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · fi sallia (to let one have) · tpi larim (to let one have) · pt deixar (to let one have) · ja 許可する (to let one have) · af toelaat (to give permission) · ar سَمَحَ بِـ (to give permission) · de erlauben (to let one have) · hsb pušćować (to let one have) · ru разреша́ть (to give permission) · uk врахо́вувати (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · it permettere (to give permission) · nl toelaten (to let one have) · he אישר (to give permission) · bg дава́м (to let one have) · sh дозволити (to let one have) · sw -ruhusu (to let one have) · ca permetre (to give permission) · ml അനുവദിക്കുക (to let one have) · pl pozwolić (to let one have) · cs dovolit (to let one have) · el αφήνω (to give permission) · fi varata (to make allowance) · el επιτρέπω (to give permission) · ru позволя́ть (to not bar or obstruct) · uk дозволя́ти (to not bar or obstruct) · ga lig do (to give permission) · fi myöntää (to acknowledge the truth of) · de berücksichtigen (to make allowance) · no tillate (to let one have) · sw -kubalia (to let one have) · ta அனுமதி (to give permission) · hu hagy (to make allowance) · ga ceadaigh (to not bar or obstruct) · pt aceitar (to acknowledge the truth of) · mk дозволи (to let one have) · zza icazet dayen (to let one have) · bg допускам (to not bar or obstruct) · az qoymaq (to not bar or obstruct) · ml സമ്മതിക്കുക (to let one have) · cmn 允許 /允许 (to let one have) · ro acorda (to let one have) · ru уче́сть (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · sl dovoliti (to let one have) · hi इजाज़त देना (to let one have) · th อนุญาต (to let one have) · gun eja (to let one have) · la sinō (to give permission) · be дазваля́ць (to let one have) · ar سَمَحَ (to give permission) · pt permitir (to make allowance) · ur اجازت دینا (to let one have) · gd leig le (to not bar or obstruct) · mi tuku (to not bar or obstruct) · fr permettre (to give permission) · tpi larim (to not bar or obstruct) · tl hayaan (to give permission) · de eingestehen (to acknowledge the truth of) · fa اجازه دادن (to let one have) · pl przyznać (to not bar or obstruct) · el αναγνωρίζω (to acknowledge the truth of) · ro admite (to let one have) · cy caniatáu (to give permission) · bg разрешавам (to give permission) · hsb pušćić (to give permission) · uk дозво́лити (to not bar or obstruct) · gl deixar (to let one have) · de gestatten (to let one have) · da tillade (to let one have) · nl toegeven (to acknowledge the truth of) · cs povolit (to let one have) · cs povolovat (to let one have) · af toelaat (to not bar or obstruct) · ja 容認する (to let one have) · bg позволявам (to not bar or obstruct) · uk визнава́ти (to acknowledge the truth of) · he התיר (to let one have) · tpi larim (to give permission) · so ogolaasho (to let one have) · scn lassari (to let one have) · ca deixar (to let one have) · hu megenged (to give permission) · fi hyväksyä (to acknowledge the truth of) · uk дозво́лити (to give permission) · el χορηγώ (to let one have) · mrw sogot (to let one have) · uk дозволя́ти (to give permission) · mfe permet (to give permission) · sh dozvoliti (to let one have) · af toelaat (to let one have) · ml സമ്മതിക്കുക (to acknowledge the truth of) · it lasciare (to let one have) · pt permitir (to not bar or obstruct) · pl pozwolić (to give permission) · af aanvaar (to acknowledge the truth of) · io grantar (to let one have) · eo permesi (to give permission) · it consentire (to give permission) · ru позво́лить (to give permission) · ru допуска́ть (to not bar or obstruct) · bg позволявам (to give permission) · de einpreisen (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · fr accorder (to let one have) · ru приня́ть во внима́ние (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · sc lassai (to let one have) · vec lasar (to let one have) · mi tuku (to let one have) · gd leig le (to give permission) · eo allasi (to give permission) · fr permettre (to not bar or obstruct) · ro permite (to give permission) · la cēdō (to give permission) · it permettere (to not bar or obstruct) · ota براقمق (to let one have) · hu szán (to make allowance) · sq lejoj (to let one have) · uk дозво́лити (to let one have) · ru разреши́ть (to let one have) · ml അനുവദിക്കുക (to give permission) · el παραχωρώ (to let one have) · oc daissar (to let one have) · fi sallia (to give permission) · uk дозволя́ти (to let one have) · pl wziąć pod uwagę (to make allowance) · fi antaa alennus (to make allowance) · hil tugot (to let one have) · uk допусти́ти (to not bar or obstruct) · ru разреши́ть (to give permission) · sw -tambua (to acknowledge the truth of) · la sinō (to let one have) · ang ālīefan (to let one have) · cy caniatáu (to let one have) · cs dovolit (to give permission) · pt considerar (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · cmn 讓 /让 (to let one have) · vi cho (to give permission) · no tillate (to give permission) · da tillade (to not bar or obstruct) · mk дозволува (to let one have) · he אישר (to let one have) · el παρέχω (to let one have) · fi tehdä varaus (to make allowance) · is leyfa (to let one have) · pl przyznać (to acknowledge the truth of) · ln lingisa (to let one have) · ru позво́лить (to not bar or obstruct) · ht pèmèt (to give permission) · ar أَذِنَ (to let one have) · ms membenarkan (to let one have) · fr laisser (to let one have) · tg иҷозат додан (to let one have) · de erlauben (to not bar or obstruct) · fr laisser (to not bar or obstruct) · sc lassare (to let one have) · hsb pušćić (to let one have) · txb tärk- (to let one have) · hsb pušćować (to give permission) · da tillade (to make allowance) · sv tillåta (to give permission) · nl toelaten (to give permission) · de einkalkulieren (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · fi varautua (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · hil pagtugot (to let one have) · fi antaa lupa (to give permission) · vi cho phép (to let one have) · ru учи́тывать (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · it concedere (to not bar or obstruct) · sk povoliť (to let one have) · de einkalkulieren (to make allowance) · grc δῐ́δωμῐ (to let one have) · pl pozwalać (to let one have) · fur lassâ (to let one have) · ro permite (to let one have) · hu lehetővé tesz (to render physically possible) · pt permitir (to let one have) · hu engedélyez (to give permission) · ltg ļaut (to let one have) · uk врахува́ти (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · ga admhaigh (to acknowledge the truth of) · cs dovolovat (to let one have) · bg признавам (to acknowledge the truth of) · pt permitir (to give permission) · ga tabhair (to let one have) · az icazə vermək (to give permission) · ro îngădui (to give permission) · da acceptere (to acknowledge the truth of) · ang lǣtan (to let one have) · nl toestaan (to let one have) · ja 許す (to let one have) · nl toestaan (to not bar or obstruct) · hu enged (to let one have) · vi cấp phép (to give permission) · pl wziąć pod uwagę (to grant as a deduction or an addition) · vi cho phép (to give permission) · hu hagy (to not bar or obstruct)