ENGLISH
REFERENCE

allow for

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to consider or include something when you are making a plan or calculation.

phr. v.. to take a factor into consideration; to make provision for a possibility or contingency when planning.


SIMPLE

You should allow for traffic when planning your trip.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect had to allow for extra weight when designing the roof of the new stadium.

COMPLEX

The budget fails to allow for the inevitable fluctuations in currency exchange rates that occur during international trade.

Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
allow + for + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun representing a potential problem, delay, or extra cost.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'consider' (general thinking) and 'account for' (explaining why something happened); 'allow for' is specifically about preparation for the future.

Pitfall

We must allow for to be late.We must allow for being late.the preposition 'for' must be followed by a noun or a gerund, not an infinitive.

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