allow
- 01 A2 Elementary
to give someone permission to do something or to let something happen.
to permit or give consent to an action or condition. Often used with an object and a to-infinitive.
Simple“The teacher will allow us to use our notes during the final exam.”
In context“The security protocols do not allow visitors to enter the laboratory without a verified digital pass and a physical escort.”
UsageTakes a direct object followed by a to-infinitive, or a gerund if no object is present (e.g., 'they don't allow smoking').
PitfallMy parents don't allow me go out late. My parents don't allow me to go out late.Unlike 'let', the verb 'allow' requires 'to' before the following verb.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
to give someone a specific amount of time, money, or space for a purpose.
to provide or set aside a specific portion of a resource for a particular person or use.
Simple“You should allow at least thirty minutes for the paint to dry completely.”
In context“The budget allows five hundred dollars for incidental travel expenses, provided that all receipts are submitted by the end of the month.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to admit that something is true, even if you do not want to.
to acknowledge or concede the truth of a statement, often as part of a larger argument.
Simple“He had to allow that her plan was much better than his own.”
In context“The judge allowed that the defendant had been under significant stress, though this did not excuse the breach of contract.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
to make it possible for something to happen.
to render an event or state physically or logically possible.
Simple“The new windows allow more natural light into the living room.”
In context“The modular design of the spacecraft allows for rapid repairs even while the vessel is in transit.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
to officially agree to a request in a court of law.
to rule in favour of a motion, claim, or appeal within a legal proceeding.
Simple“The judge decided to allow the appeal after hearing the new evidence.”
In context“The court chose to allow the motion for discovery, compelling the corporation to release its internal emails from the period in question.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
to stop worrying about something or to leave someone alone.
to forgo bothering with something or to cease an annoying activity; often used as an imperative.
Simple“Just allow it, man; it's not worth getting into a fight over.”
In context“He was going to complain about the noise, but his friend told him to just allow it and keep walking.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to Multicultural London English (MLE) and is very informal; learners should avoid using it in academic or professional settings.
allow vs afford — Afford is about having enough money or time; allow is about giving permission or making something possible.
allow vs let — Allow requires the to-infinitive, while let requires the bare infinitive.
Usage allow people · allowing researchers · allow scientists
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin laus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin laudō Latin allaudō Old French aloer ▲ Latin ad- Latin locus ▲ Latin -ō Latin locō Latin allocō Old French aloer Anglo-Norman alouerbor. Middle English allowen English allow From Middle English allowen, alowen, a borrowing from Anglo-Norman allouer, alouer, from Medieval Latin allaudāre, merged with alouer, from Medieval Latin allocō (“to assign”). Doublet of allaud (via allaudāre) or allocate (via allocāre). The similarity with Middle English alyfen (from Old English ālīefan) and German erlauben, both from Proto-Germanic *uzlaubijaną (“to allow”) is unrelated.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.