Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense affords, present participle affording, past tense, past participle afforded
1. verb
If you cannot afford something, you do not have enough money to pay for it.
My parents can't even afford a new refrigerator. [VERB noun]
The arts should be available to more people at prices they can afford. [VERB noun]
We couldn't afford to buy a new rug. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: have the money for, manage, bear, pay for More Synonyms of afford
2. verb
If you say that you cannot affordto do something or allow it to happen, you mean that you must not do it or must prevent it from happening because it would be harmful or embarrassing to you.
We can't afford to wait. [VERB to-infinitive]
The country could not afford the luxury of an election. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bear, stand, sustain, allow yourself More Synonyms of afford
3. verb
If someone or something affords you an opportunity or protection, they give it to you.
[formal]
This affords us the opportunity to ask questions about how the systems might change. [VERB noun noun]
It was a cold room, but it afforded a fine view of the Old City. [VERB noun]
...the protection afforded by the police. [VERB-ed]
More Synonyms of afford
afford in British English
(əˈfɔːd)
verb
1. (preceded bycan, could, etc)
to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences
we can afford to buy a small house
I can afford to give you one of my chess sets
we can't afford to miss this play
2.
to give, yield, or supply
the meeting afforded much useful information
Derived forms
affordable (afˈfordable)
adjective
affordability (afˌfordaˈbility)
noun
Word origin
Old English geforthian to further, promote, from forthforth; the Old English prefix ge- was later reduced to a-, and the modern spelling (C16) is influenced by words beginning aff-
afford in American English
(əˈfɔrd)
verb transitive
1.
to have enough or the means for; bear the cost of without serious inconvenience
used with can or be able
I'm not able to afford a car; can you afford the time?
2.
to manage (to do something) without risking serious consequences
used with can
I can afford to speak frankly
3.
to give; furnish
music affords her pleasure
Derived forms
affordability (afˌfordaˈbility)
noun
affordable (afˈfordable)
adjective
Word origin
ME aforthen < OE geforthian, to advance < forthian, to further
Examples of 'afford' in a sentence
afford
These days he can afford to buy his own cars.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He could afford to give away a business worth a few million.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This meant the buyers lost any protection afforded by the website.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He had to save for weeks to pay for a night out and often could not afford to buy meat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But we can't afford to sulk about it.
The Sun (2017)
Councils can't afford to pay enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Two years there and he could afford to buy Charlton.
The Sun (2017)
Europe to pay an unconditional basic income in an experiment to see how it affected the lives of the recipients and whether the country could afford it.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Our lips, she says, are ageing like the rest of our faces and should be afforded love and protection.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Most need to think about affording a family before having one.
The Sun (2013)
Younger entrepreneurs can afford to give things a shot this way.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is largesse the country cannot afford.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Being able to work dogs and being good enough to afford them is to have respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They had proclaimed the divine protection afforded sovereignty.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
They squandered the opportunity afforded by much lower borrowing costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And ten per cent said they were worried about affording housing costs in the year ahead.
The Sun (2016)
We cannot afford to give chances away.
The Sun (2014)
This country can not afford the ships required to support a carrier battle group.
The Sun (2008)
The ruling could lead to similar sites being afforded the same protection.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
No wonder he can afford to give up his bonus!
The Sun (2012)
These are epidemics no country can afford.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That affords certain protection against competing land use.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The country can ill afford such chaos.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This gives people a chance to stay in their homes until they can afford to buy them back.
The Sun (2008)
Our son is still with us at 24 as he cannot afford to buy or rent.
The Sun (2007)
We can't afford to worry about what other teams are doing.
The Sun (2007)
Can't we all afford to buy more things?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We can't afford to think about the future.
The Sun (2016)
I suppose just to make enough to afford a nice house and to live comfortably in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I had enough money to afford quite good doctors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some will let you view the northern lights; others afford the opportunity to spend the small hours clubbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
People can't afford to buy when they are setting off on their own and are increasingly struggling to afford rent.
The Sun (2014)
The village afforded little opportunity.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
In other languages
afford
British English: afford /əˈfɔːd/ VERB
If you cannot afford something, you do not have enough money to pay for it.
We can't afford to pay the rent.
American English: afford
Arabic: قادِرٌ عَلَى دَفْعِ الـمال
Brazilian Portuguese: pagar
Chinese: 付得起
Croatian: priuštiti (si)
Czech: dovolit si
Danish: have råd til
Dutch: veroorloven
European Spanish: poder permitirse
Finnish: olla varaa johonkin
French: avoir les moyens de
German: leisten (sich)
Greek: έχω τα μέσα
Italian: permettersi reflexive verb
Japanese: ･･･する余裕がある
Korean: ...할 여유가 있다
Norwegian: ha råd til
Polish: pozwolić sobie (na coś)
European Portuguese: ter recursos
Romanian: a-și permite
Russian: иметь возможность
Latin American Spanish: poder pagar
Swedish: ha råd med
Thai: สามารถหาได้
Turkish: gücü yetmek
Ukrainian: дозволяти собі
Vietnamese: đủ khả năng
Chinese translation of 'afford'
afford
(əˈfɔːd)
vt
to be able to afford (to buy/pay) sth买(買)/支付得起某物 (mǎi/zhīfùdeqǐ mǒuwù)
to be able to afford (to do) sth (= permit o.s.) 担(擔)负(負)得起(做)某事 (dānfùdeqǐ (zuò) mǒushì)