Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense allows, present participle allowing, past tense, past participle allowed
1. verb
If someone is allowedto do something, it is all right for them to do it and they will not get into trouble.
The children are not allowed to watch violent TV programmes. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
The Government will allow them to advertise on radio and television. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
They will be allowed home. [beVERB-ed adverb/preposition]
Smoking will not be allowed. [beVERB-ed]
[Also V n/v-ing]
Synonyms: permit, approve, enable, sanction More Synonyms of allow
2. verb
If you are allowed something, you are given permission to have it or are given it.
Gifts like chocolates or flowers are allowed. [beVERB-ed]
He should be allowed the occasional treat. [beVERB-ed noun]
3. verb
If you allow something to happen, you do not prevent it.
He won't allow himself to fail. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
If the soil is allowed to dry out the tree could die. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
4. verb
If one thing allows another thing to happen, the first thing creates the opportunity for the second thing to happen.
The compromise will allow him to continue his free market reforms. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
...an attempt to allow the Tory majority a greater share of power. [VERB noun noun]
She said this would allow more effective planning. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you allow a particular length of time or a particular amount of something for a particular purpose, you include it in your planning.
Please allow 28 days for delivery. [VERB noun + for]
Allow about 75ml (3fl oz) per six servings. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: give, provide, grant, spare More Synonyms of allow
6. verb
If you allowthat something is true, you admit or agree that it is true.
[formal]
Warren allows that capitalist development may result in increased social inequality. [VERB that]
Synonyms: acknowledge, accept, admit, grant More Synonyms of allow
7.
See allow me
8.
See allow me to
Phrasal verbs:
See allow for
More Synonyms of allow
allow in British English
(əˈlaʊ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to permit (to do something); let
2. (transitive)
to set aside
five hours were allowed to do the job
3. (transitive)
to let enter or stay
they don't allow dogs
4. (transitive)
to acknowledge or concede (a point, claim, etc)
5. (transitive)
to let have; grant
he was allowed few visitors
6. (intransitive; foll byfor)
to take into account
allow for delays
7. (intransitive; often foll byof)
to permit; admit
a question that allows of only one reply
8. (tr; may take a clause as object) US dialect
to assert; maintain
9. (transitive) archaic
to approve; accept
Word origin
C14: from Old French alouer, from Late Latin allaudāre to extol, influenced by Medieval Latin allocāre to assign, allocate
allow in American English
(əˈlaʊ)
verb transitive
1.
to let do, happen, etc.; permit; let
we weren't allowed to go
2.
to let have
she allowed herself no sweets
3.
to let enter or stay
dogs are not allowed
4.
to admit (a claim or the like); acknowledge as true or valid
5.
to provide or allot (a certain amount, period of time, etc.) for a purpose
allow an inch for shrinkage
6. Dialectal
a.
to think; give as one's opinion
b.
to intend
SIMILAR WORDS: let
Idioms:
allow for
allow of
Word origin
ME alowen < OFr alouer < ML allocare, allocate; assoc. with OFr alouer < L allaudare, to extol < ad-, to + laudare, to praise
Examples of 'allow' in a sentence
allow
This approach also allows users to benefit from predictable technology budgeting and simpler administration.
Computing (2010)
The network also allows for videoconferencing facilities.
Computing (2010)
He also feels conflicted about allowing the fact he is a father to have an impact on his job.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Successive governments allowed this to happen.
The Sun (2016)
Please allow up to 60 days for delivery.
The Sun (2016)
The practice is legal, although suppliers are not allowed to advertise.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has a very wide flight envelope, which allows a huge amount of manoeuvres.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why is the Government allowing this to happen?
The Sun (2016)
We were not allowed to talk about the war.
Martin Allen THE HITLER-HESS DECEPTION (2003)
Please do not allow emotion to enter into your deliberation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This will also allow you to avoid the new caller display charge.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It frowns on anything that could have cost silly amounts without allowing for personal ingenuity and cunning.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You wonder how we allowed it to happen.
The Sun (2014)
Members of reputable associations are not allowed to advertise individually.
Turner, Roger Newman The Hayfever Handbook - a summer survival guide (1988)
This has led to appalling legal complications about who is allowed to represent whom.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Please allow me to go my own way.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They would also allow former editors on the panel.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why do you allow this to happen?
Christianity Today (2000)
It also allows you to advertise for your ideal purchase.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Please allow a septuagenarian science writer to clarify.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It may also allow coaches to improve the power of serves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We know we cannot allow that to happen again.
The Sun (2006)
Government proposals would remove restrictions on websites that allow vendors to advertise direct to the public.
The Sun (2012)
It also allows him to be more sociable.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We elected the politicians who allowed this to happen.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The perception is that we're not allowed to talk about it.
The Sun (2012)
Roll out to a thickness of about 5mm and allow to cool.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Please allow up to 28 days for delivery.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Things to bear in mind: for some lenders there is a minimum amount you are allowed to overpay.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
NI contributions would better cover benefits if employers paid in a decent amount and allowed the employee to do the same.
The Sun (2013)
Cover the base and sides of the dish with long sheets of pasta, allowing a nice amount to hang over each side.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I wonder if those in Government allow their data to be exported in this way.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
allow
British English: allow /əˈlaʊ/ VERB
If someone is allowed to do something, it is all right for them to do it.
The children are not allowed to watch violent TV programmes.
American English: allow
Arabic: يَسْمَحُ
Brazilian Portuguese: permitir
Chinese: 允许
Croatian: dopustiti
Czech: dovolit
Danish: tillade
Dutch: toestaan
European Spanish: permitir
Finnish: sallia
French: autoriser
German: erlauben
Greek: επιτρέπω
Italian: permettere
Japanese: 許す
Korean: 허락하다
Norwegian: tillate
Polish: pozwolić
European Portuguese: permitir
Romanian: a permite
Russian: позволять
Latin American Spanish: permitir
Swedish: tillåta
Thai: อนุญาต
Turkish: izin vermek
Ukrainian: дозволяти
Vietnamese: cho phép
All related terms of 'allow'
allow for
If you allow for certain problems or expenses , you include some extra time or money in your planning so that you can deal with them if they occur.
allow me
Some people say ' Allow me ' as a polite way of offering to do something for someone.
allow of
to be subject to; admit of
allow freedom
Freedom is the state of being allowed to do what you want to do. Freedoms are instances of this.
allow me to
Some people use Allow me to... as a way of introducing something that they want to say or do.
Chinese translation of 'allow'
allow
(əˈlau)
vt
(= permit)[practice, behaviour]允许(許) (yǔnxǔ)
⇒ Henry doesn't allow smoking in his office.亨利不允许在他的办公室吸烟。 (Hēnglì bù yǔnxǔ zài tā de bàngōngshì xīyān.)
(= set aside)[sum, time, amount]留出 (liúchū)
⇒ Please allow 28 days for delivery.请留出28天的发货期。 (Qǐng liúchū èrshíbā tiān de fāhuò qī.)
to allow sth to happen (by failing to prevent sth) 容许(許)某事发(發)生 (róngxǔ mǒushì fāshēng)
⇒ We cannot allow the situation to deteriorate.我们不容许情况恶化。 (Wǒmen bù róngxǔ qíngkuàng èhuà.)
to allow sb to do sth (= make sth possible) 允许(許)某人做某事 (yǔnxǔ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
⇒ The extra money allows them to distribute more aid.额外的款项使他们能够提供更多援助。 (Éwài de kuǎnxiàng shǐ tāmen nénggòu tígōng gèngduō yuánzhù.)
[claim, goal]认(認)可 (rènkě)
⇒ After an appeal, the goal was allowed.经过申诉，这一入球得到认可。 (Jīngguò shēnsù, zhè yī rùqiú dédào rènkě.)
to allow sb to do sth (= give permission for sth) 允许(許)某人做某事 (yǔnxǔ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
⇒ They allow their children to stay up late.他们允许自己的孩子们晚睡。 (Tāmen yǔnxǔ zìjǐ de háizimen wǎn shuì.)
don't allow the soil to dry out不要让(讓)土壤干(乾)透。 (bùyào ràng tǔrǎng gāntòu)
to be allowed to do sth被允许(許)做某事 (bèi yǔnxǔ zuò mǒushì)
⇒ The children are not allowed to watch too much TV.孩子们不被允许看太多电视。 (Háizimen bù bèi yǔnxǔ kàn tàiduō diànshì.)
smoking is not allowed禁止吸烟(煙) (jìnzhǐ xīyān)
to allow that ... (frm, = concede) 承认(認) ... (chéngrèn ... )
All related terms of 'allow'
allow of
( permit ) 容许(許) róngxǔ
allow for
( delay, inflation, possibility ) 考虑(慮)到 kǎolǜ dào ⇒ Allow for long delays on all routes north. → 要考虑到所有向北路线的长时间阻塞。 Yào kǎolǜ dào suǒyǒu xiàng běi lùxiàn de cháng shíjiān zǔsè.
to allow that ...
( frm : concede ) 承认(認) ... chéngrèn ...
to allow sb to do sth
( make sth possible ) 允许(許)某人做某事 yǔnxǔ mǒurén zuò mǒushì ⇒ The extra money allows them to distribute more aid. → 额外的款项使他们能够提供更多援助。 Éwài de kuǎnxiàng shǐ tāmen nénggòu tígōng gèngduō yuánzhù.
to allow sth to happen
( by failing to prevent sth ) 容许(許)某事发(發)生 róngxǔ mǒushì fāshēng ⇒ We cannot allow the situation to deteriorate. → 我们不容许情况恶化。 Wǒmen bù róngxǔ qíngkuàng èhuà.