allow Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
    let; permit.
    • This permits the water to rush in
    • This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement
    • This will permit the rain to run off
  2. verb consent to, give permission
    countenance; let; permit.
    • She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband
    • I won't let the police search her basement
    • I cannot allow you to see your exam
  3. verb let have
    grant.
    • grant permission
    • Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison
  4. verb give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
    set aside; appropriate; earmark; reserve.
    • I will earmark this money for your research
    • She sets aside time for meditation every day
  5. verb make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain
    leave; provide; allow for.
    • This leaves no room for improvement
    • The evidence allows only one conclusion
    • allow for mistakes
    • leave lots of time for the trip
    • This procedure provides for lots of leeway
  6. verb allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something
    take into account.
    • I allow for this possibility
    • The seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash
  7. verb afford possibility
    admit.
    • This problem admits of no solution
    • This short story allows of several different interpretations
  8. verb allow the other (baseball) team to score
    give up.
    • give up a run
  9. verb grant as a discount or in exchange
    • The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera
  10. verb allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting
    tolerate; permit.
    • We don't allow dogs here
    • Children are not permitted beyond this point
    • We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital

WordNet

Al*low" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. alouen, OF. alouer, aloer, aluer, F. allouer, fr. LL. allocare to admit as proved, to place, use; confused with OF. aloer, fr. L. allaudare to extol; ad + laudare to praise. See Local, and cf. Allocate, Laud.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Allowed present participle & verbal noun Allowing
Definitions
  1. To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction. Obs. or Archaic
    Ye allow the deeds of your fathers. Luke xi. 48.
    We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his learning. Fuller.
  2. To like; to be suited or pleased with. Obs.
    How allow you the model of these clothes? Massinger.
  3. To sanction; to invest; to intrust. Obs.
    Thou shalt be . . . allowed with absolute power. Shak.
  4. To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have; as, to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest.
    He was allowed about three hundred pounds a year. Macaulay.
  5. To own or acknowledge; to accept as true; to concede; to accede to an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the truth of a proposition.
    I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct . . . was highly reprehensible. Thackeray.
  6. To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; esp. to abate or deduct; as, to allow a sum for leakage.
  7. To grant license to; to permit; to consent to; as, to allow a son to be absent. Syn. -- To allot; assign; bestow; concede; admit; permit; suffer; tolerate. See Permit.
Al*low" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To admit; to concede; to make allowance or abatement.
    Allowing still for the different ways of making it. Addison.
    Shak.

Webster 1913