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Definitions

allow

[uh-lou] / əˈlaʊ /




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:

This suggests that computational tools may allow scientists to analyze much larger collections of dreams in a consistent and repeatable way.

From Science Daily Jul. 27, 2026

For example, if tax circumstances allow, they might sell some of the Eli Lilly position at little or no capital-gains tax, making that another potential funding source.

From MarketWatch Jul. 27, 2026

Her family has confirmed that Minneapolis authorities were finally granted access this month to the evidence in her killing, which will allow them to conduct a proper investigation.

From Slate Jul. 27, 2026

This explains the outcry over the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal to make quarterly reporting voluntary and allow semiannual reporting instead.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 26, 2026

Would she allow the skull to be removed and shipped to Massachusetts?

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

"Every new survey adds another chapter to a dataset that allows scientists to ask questions across timescales that are almost impossible anywhere else in the world," she said.

From BBC Jul. 27, 2026

The successful flotation raised about $8.5 billion for the 7% of shares that were offered although the over-allotment of shares, allows underwriters to increase that to around $10 billion.

From MarketWatch Jul. 27, 2026

Now about 30 states have some version of a program that allows families to spend public money on private school tuition.

From Salon Jul. 27, 2026

Long-read sequencing allows researchers to examine much larger, continuous pieces of a genome.

From Science Daily Jul. 26, 2026

Uncle Al is desolate, weeping and honking into his red handkerchief and allowing himself only the occasional upward glance to gauge whether the procession’s speed allows for maximum crowd enlargement.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Rather than relying only on researchers to read and interpret every dream individually, the technology allowed the team to measure the semantic structure of the reports.

From Science Daily Jul. 27, 2026

He has been on bail since being charged and was allowed to fly home to the UK in September for four months, before returning to Western Australia ahead of his trial.

From BBC Jul. 27, 2026

Profit rose to $3.66 billion as the memory-chip shortage allowed the company to secure generous price increases from customers.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 27, 2026

The vouchers have allowed some students to access private or religious schools they previously could not afford.

From Salon Jul. 27, 2026

“You just said. We’re not allowed to talk or whisper.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

And in the three years since Arkansas began allowing students to get about $7,000 annually toward tuition, about 120 new private schools opened.

From Salon Jul. 27, 2026

Its dense outer layer was harder and more durable than the bones of many other animals available in the region, allowing it to withstand repeated impacts.

From Science Daily Jul. 27, 2026

Other areas had gone without fire for more than 100 years, allowing dead wood, shrubs, and other combustible material to accumulate.

From Science Daily Jul. 26, 2026

And the building's entire facade – with its unique form and intricate detailing - will be showcased with new lights, allowing passersby to admire it at night.

From BBC Jul. 26, 2026

Finally done, I put the harness back on him and hooked him up and made the run through the night thinking that I was allowing him to die.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen




Vocabulary lists containing allow


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