# allies

/ˈæɫaɪz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allies
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. partners or supporters

noun · CEFR B2

people or groups that help and support you, especially when others are against you.

For teachers: individuals or groups that provide support or cooperate with another for a common purpose.

- She knew she needed strong allies in the office to get her project approved.
- The CEO sought allies among the minority shareholders to ensure the merger would proceed despite opposition from the board.

### 2. nations in a treaty

noun · CEFR B2

countries that have agreed to help and defend each other, usually during a war.

For teachers: sovereign states formally cooperated with another for a military or strategic purpose, typically by treaty.

- The two countries have been close allies for decades, sharing military secrets and trade.
- Diplomatic tensions rose when one of the nation's oldest allies refused to support the new trade embargo.

### 3. historical military groups

noun · CEFR B2

the specific groups of countries that fought together in World War I or World War II.

For teachers: the specific coalitions of nations that opposed the Central Powers in WWI or the Axis Powers in WWII.

- The Allies landed in France in 1944 to begin the liberation of Europe.
- Historians often debate the level of strategic coordination between the Allies during the final months of the conflict.

### 4. joining together

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to join with another person or group to work toward a goal.

For teachers: to combine or unite resources and efforts for a specific, often political or military, objective.

- The small tech company allies with larger firms to reach more customers.
- The local faction usually allies with whichever national party promises the most significant infrastructure investment.

Usage: The verb is often used with the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- The Allies worked together to win the war.
- During the second half of the war, the Allies coordinated their military strategies to liberate occupied territories across Europe.
- The diplomatic tension between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union began to surface even before the final victory was secured in 1945.

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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.