allow
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:
The Sisters of Nazareth allow requests for both remote enquiries and on-site research, but visits must be approved by the congregation and are supervised.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth said during a July podcast that the feature would allow people to remember the names of others they met in real life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
The agentic system would allow a virtual credit card to be issued to a person’s AI bot to buy things on its own, without first seeking permission.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
In cancer, however, the same survival advantage could allow dangerous cells to persist despite treatment.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
I didn’t allow their side-eyes and annoyed looks to intimidate or stop me.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
A.I. fears reach a fever pitch, Kevin Warsh votes to raise rates, and the SEC allows stocks to trade like crypto.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
The pay-as-you-go scheme allows customers to use a tap-in and tap-out process using a contactless debit card or smartphone device without needing to buy tickets in advance for adult single journeys.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
A mechanism that allows healthy tissue to recover from devastating damage could potentially be harnessed to improve healing.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Viewing my bloodwork results before going into my annual physical allows me to be better informed and prepared with my questions for the physical.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
We’re as far away from the Ranch as land allows us to go.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
All evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
New technology allowed us to find and catalog such networks—to construct an atlas of the mind.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Owner Peter Dore-Smith said he was not allowed to promote the free drinks on social media, but could tell customers that they had been bought by Together, Together, the name of the artist's tour.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
This allowed them to look at whether a person's circumstances changed after starting treatment.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
In the split second after it happened, I cursed myself for believing even for one moment that I was really allowed to be happy.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
JSerra converted on three fourth downs in the second half Friday, allowing the Lions to battle back from a seven-point first-half deficit to beat host Bishop Amat 37-28.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Because of its proximity to the Blue House, the president's official residence, urban development has been restricted, allowing the neighbourhood to retain its quaint charm.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Pew reports that 57% of Americans favor allowing coaches to lead their teams in prayer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
PRX3 also turns over more rapidly in tumor cells, potentially allowing the treatment to target cancer more selectively while having less effect on healthy tissue.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
Lala and her crew let the rope go slack, allowing the lifeless monster to slip into the water.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Vocabulary lists containing allow
Beowulf vocabulary
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"The Sporting Spirit"
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Workshop 3, Part 2
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