# afford

/əˈfɔɹd/ (US) · /ɐfˈɔːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/afford
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to have enough money

verb · CEFR B1

to have enough money to pay for something.

For teachers: to have the financial means to purchase or pay for something without incurring significant debt or hardship.

- We can't afford a new car this year because we are saving for a house.
- Few young families in the city can afford to buy property without significant financial assistance from their parents.

Usage: Almost always used with 'can', 'could', or 'be able to'.

### 2. to have enough time or resources

verb · CEFR B2

to be able to spare something, like time, without it causing a problem.

For teachers: to be able to spare or give up a resource, such as time or attention, without serious detriment to one's goals.

- I can't afford to spend another hour on this project if I want to finish my homework.
- The candidate felt she could not afford to lose any more support in the rural districts before the final vote.

Usage: Often used with a to-infinitive to describe a risk or a loss of time.

### 3. to provide or grant

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give or provide an opportunity or a nice view.

For teachers: to provide, furnish, or offer an opportunity, advantage, or physical view.

- The balcony affords a beautiful view of the mountains.
- The new trade agreement affords local manufacturers a significant advantage when competing in international markets.

Teaching tip: This sense is much more formal than the financial sense; in everyday speech, people usually say 'gives' or 'provides'.

## Examples

- I cannot afford to buy a new car this year.
- After saving for three years, the couple could finally afford the down payment on their first home.
- The administration realized they could not afford to ignore the growing public outcry, as further silence would likely result in a total loss of political capital.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.