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Who famously said, "Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes"?

allow

[uh-lau] / Ι™Λˆlaʊ /




Usage

What are other ways to say allow?

Allow and permit are often interchangeable as terms that imply granting or conceding the right of someone to do something, but permit is the more positive of the two. Allow implies complete absence of an attempt, or even an intent, to hinder. Permit suggests formal or implied assent or authorization. Let is the familiar, conversational term for both allow and permit.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Konsa could move to right-back, a position he also made his England debut in, which would allow Saliba to slot in next to Gabriel in his regular spot.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

“He needs a foster home with a special rescue group that will allow him to rest and relax before moving on to his next chapter,” the shelter’s statement read.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

In response, hepatocytes alter their surfaces in ways that allow them to capture more LDL and amyloid beta from the blood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026

It aims to support the Ukrainian armed forces, ensure security in Ukrainian skies and allow economic activity to resume in the Black Sea.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

It had never been done before, but perhaps the Afterlife would allow it, after seeing what a brilliant team they’d become.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Those components are essentially computer chip technology that allows Apple's devices to operate more quickly, most of which Apple has manufactured through TSMC, which is based in Taiwan.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

It allows Perseverance to cover greater distances without needing people on Earth to repeatedly determine its location, potentially making future exploration faster and more efficient.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

Adding transmission lines allows for retiring of old power plants, adding new generation such as solar or bringing power in from other areas, which improves resilience, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Its position allows Doherty to order stock through Irish distributors before sending books to customers around the world, including in Britain.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

For as soon as the weather allows, Farmer Fitzgibbon’s tractor comes rumbling through, pulling the sharp-bladed plow through the soil, turning over every foot of it.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien

Perpetual contracts on Hyperliquid offer up to 50 times leverage, well above the maximum levels allowed in the U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

Why are cars allowed to change tyres if a red flag is called?

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Early voting options have allowed more than 5.5 million Californians to cast their ballot ahead of election day, according to Political Data Intelligence, voter data analysis software.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

Critics say investment in maintenance has not kept up with the increase in passenger numbers since the 2021 liberalisation of Spain's rail network, which allowed private companies to break Renfe's decades-long monopoly.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

“Is this a private party, or are adults allowed too?”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Yet they ended up evenly splitting the moderate-liberal vote, allowing Lawrence a victory with 42 percent of the primary tally.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026

The later drawdowns all coincided with a deflationary environment, allowing monetary authorities to pivot quickly and reflate markets and asset prices.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

On Monday, the securities regulator said it planned to ease share-buyback rules, including by allowing companies to repurchase shares when the price falls below the level at which the shares made its debut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

The upgrade is expected to extend the operating lives of Voyager 1's remaining scientific instruments, allowing the spacecraft to continue collecting valuable information from interstellar space longer than previously expected.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026

If he could convince Molly to help him reason with Clara, surely he could convince her that allowing Ashmodai to tear into the fabric of this world would not end well for any of them.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny


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