Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense allies, present participle allying, past tense, past participle alliedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (ælaɪ). The verb is pronounced (əlaɪ).
1. countable noun
A country's ally is another country that has an agreement to support it, especially in war.
Washington would not take such a step without its allies' approval.
It was assumed that Germany would not want to bring such a powerful ally of Britaininto the war. [+ of]
2. plural noun
The Allies were the armed forces that fought against Germany and Japan in the Second World War.
3. countable noun
If you describe someone as your ally, you mean that they help and support you, especially when other people are opposing you.
He is a close ally of the Prime Minister. [+ of]
She will regret losing a close political ally.
Synonyms: partner, friend, colleague, associate More Synonyms of ally
4. verb
If you allyyourself with someone or something, you give your support to them.
He will have no choice but to ally himself with the new movement. [VERB pronoun-reflexive + with]
Synonyms: combine, unite, join, link More Synonyms of ally
5. See also allied
-ally
suffix
ally in British English
verb (əˈlaɪ)Word forms: -lies, -lying or -lied(usually foll byto or with)
1.
to unite or be united, esp formally, as by treaty, confederation, or marriage
2. (tr; usually passive)
to connect or be related, as through being similar or compatible
noun (ˈælaɪ, əˈlaɪ)Word forms: plural-lies
3.
a country, person, or group allied with another
4.
a person or group that supports another, esp in the face of opposition
5.
a plant, animal, substance, etc, closely related to another in characteristics orform
Word origin
C14: from Old French alier to join, from Latin alligāre to bind to, from ligāre to bind
ally in American English
(əˈlaɪ; æˈlaɪ; also, and for n. usually, ˈælaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: alˈlied or alˈlying
1.
to unite or associate for a specific purpose, as families by marriage, nations by treaty, or companies by agreement
generally used reflexively or in the passive
2.
to relate by similarity of structure, certain qualities, etc.
usually in the passive
the onion is allied to the lily
verb intransitive
3.
to become allied
nounWord forms: pluralˈallies
4.
a country, person, or group joined with another or others for a common purpose
see also Allies
5.
a plant, animal, or thing closely related in structure, etc. to another
6.
an associate; helper; auxiliary
SIMILAR WORDS: asˈsociˌate
Word origin
ME alien < OFr alier < L alligare < ad-, to + ligare, to bind: see ligature
-ally in American English
suffix
an adverbial suffix attached to certain adjectives with stems in -ic that have no forms ending in -ical
terrifically
Word origin
[-al1 + -ly]
COBUILD Collocations
ally
powerful ally
Examples of 'ally' in a sentence
ally
Germany has for years been one of our closest allies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
AMERICA is our closest and most powerful friend and ally.
The Sun (2017)
A country that goes out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A photo opportunity with one of his closest allies would signal a rapprochement that has no basis in fact.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Opposition parties and Turkey's western allies say the crackdown is targeting all critical voices.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It means finding allies and helping their economies to flower.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And they could be used against this country and its allies.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was the western allies that supported our freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Minority groups could gain allies to transform themselves into temporary majorities.
Roper, Jon Democracy and its Critics - Anglo-American democratic thought in the nineteenth century (1989)
This is a closely allied grammatical error.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You are our closest ally and our economies are so interlinked.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Losing him as a friend and an ally on set really shook her up.
The Sun (2013)
Britain and other allies could support this action.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He journeyed hither and thither in an attempt to find an ally in this unwavering and unnecessary vendetta.
Andrew Bridgeford 1066: and the Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry (2004)
The sales that businesses in this industry are hoping for allow allies of this country to defend themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And these people are our allies.
The Sun (2014)
Wannabe entrepreneurs had a key ally: technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It does not have oil but it is an important Western ally.
The Sun (2011)
One of his closest political allies says the public feel there's something lacking in him.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Ally says he can't think clearly because of all the chaos in the house.
The Sun (2012)
We need our other Nato allies to help.
The Sun (2009)
His clan, their tribal allies and the people have rallied to him.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Thailand is an important Western ally.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We find and welcome allies.
Christianity Today (2000)
At the end of 2014 the allies formally handed over security to a new Afghan president.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Doctor's allies are united and it looks like there could be hope.
The Sun (2008)
The Prime Minister will meet allies this weekend to consider his options.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Cuba is equally keen to restore ties after years of indifference from its old Cold War ally.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
ally
British English: ally /ˈælaɪ/ NOUN
An ally is a country, organization, or person that helps and supports another.
...the Western allies.
American English: ally
Arabic: حَلِيف
Brazilian Portuguese: aliado
Chinese: 同盟国
Croatian: saveznik
Czech: spojenec
Danish: allieret
Dutch: bondgenoot
European Spanish: aliado
Finnish: liittolainen
French: allié
German: Verbündeter
Greek: σύμμαχος
Italian: alleato
Japanese: 同盟国
Korean: 동맹국
Norwegian: alliert
Polish: sojusznik
European Portuguese: aliado
Romanian: aliat
Russian: союзник
Latin American Spanish: aliado
Swedish: allierad
Thai: สัมพันธมิตร
Turkish: müttefik
Ukrainian: союзник
Vietnamese: đồng minh
British English: ally VERB
If you ally yourself with someone or something, you give your support to them.
He will have no choice but to ally himself with the new movement.
American English: ally
Brazilian Portuguese: aliar-se
Chinese: 使结盟
European Spanish: aliarse
French: s'allier
German: sich verbünden mit
Italian: alleare
Japanese: 支持する
Korean: ~을 지지하다
European Portuguese: aliar-se
Latin American Spanish: aliarse
Chinese translation of 'ally'
ally
(nˈælaɪ; vbəˈlaɪ)
n(c)
[of country]同盟国(國) (tóngméngguó) (个(個), gè)
the Allies (during World War I) 协(協)约(約)国(國) (Xiéyuēguó) (during World War II) 同盟国(國) (Tóngméngguó)
(= friend, supporter) 死党(黨) (sǐdǎng)
vt
to ally o.s. with sth/sb和某组(組)织(織)/某人结(結)盟 (hé mǒu zǔzhī/mǒurén jiéméng)
(noun)
Definition
a country, person, or group with an agreement to support another
She is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
Synonyms
partner
They were partners in crime.
friend
I had a long talk with my best friend.
colleague
Three of my colleagues have been made redundant.
associate
the restaurant owner's business associates
mate (informal)
A mate of mine used to play soccer for Liverpool.
or blud">blood or blud (British, slang)
A mate of mine used to play soccer for Liverpool.
accessory
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.
comrade
Unlike so many of his comrades, he survived the war.
helper
Younger children may need a helper.
collaborator
She was an important collaborator on that novel.
accomplice
His accomplice was arrested after a high-speed car chase.
confederate
The conspirators were joined by their confederates.
co-worker
main man (slang, mainly US)
bedfellow
cobber (Australian, New Zealand, old-fashioned, informal)
He was just acting big in front of his cobbers.
coadjutor (rare)
abettor
E hoa (New Zealand)
Opposites
rival
,
enemy
,
opponent
,
competitor
,
foe
,
adversary
,
antagonist
(verb)
We need to ally economic freedom with personal liberty.
Synonyms
combine
Combine the flour with water to make a paste.
Her tale combines a strong storyline with sly humour.
unite
They have agreed to unite their efforts to bring peace.
join
The opened link is used to join the two ends of the chain.
link
the Channel Tunnel linking Britain and France
marry
It will be difficult to marry his two interests – cooking and sport.
mix
Oil and water don't mix.
Mix the cinnamon with the sugar.
bond
Strips of wood are bonded together and moulded by machine.
associate
We've got the idea of associating progress with the future.
pool
We pooled our savings to start up a new business.
bind
It is the threat of persecution that binds them together.
connect
There is no evidence to connect him to the robberies.
I wouldn't have connected the two events if you hadn't said that.
compound
An emotion oddly compounded of pleasure and bitterness flooded over me.
blend
Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth cream.
integrate
No attempt was made to integrate the parts into a coherent whole.
merge
The two countries merged into one.
put together
unify
He said he would seek to unify the Party and win the next election.
fuse
The chemicals fused to form a new compound.
synthesize
join together
band together
People living in a foreign city band together for company.
meld
Opposites
separate,
divide
,
alienate
,
disunite
,
drive apart
,
disaffect
,
set at odds
phrasal verb
See ally yourself with something or someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abettor
Synonyms
helper,
second,
associate,
assistant,
backer,
confederate,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
conniver,
cooperator
in the sense of accessory
Definition
a person who is involved in a crime but who was not present when it took place
She was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.
Synonyms
accomplice,
partner,
ally,
associate,
assistant,
helper,
colleague,
collaborator,
confederate,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
abettor,
help,
aid
in the sense of accomplice
Definition
a person who helps someone else commit a crime
His accomplice was arrested after a high-speed car chase.