Synonyms of allow

allow

verb

ə-ˈlau̇ 

1

as in to permit

to give permission for or to approve of

flash photography is not allowed inside the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

• permit
• have
• tolerate
• green-light
• suffer
• stand for
• authorize
• admit
• okay
• license
• acquiesce
• agree (to)
• concede
• grant
• consent (to)
• OK
• sanction
• commission
• accede (to)
• assent (to)
• endure
• warrant
• condone
• licence
• vouchsafe
• support
• countenance
• accord
• brook

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• hinder
• impede
• ban
• refuse
• obstruct
• veto
• deny
• withhold
• reject
• disallow
• suppress
• revoke
• proscribe
• disapprove
• keep
• restrain
• check
• censure
• dislike
• deplore
• curb
• repress
• interdict
• frown (at or on)
• discountenance
• grudge
• disfavor

2

as in to let

to give permission to

a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission

Synonyms & Similar Words

• let
• permit
• leave
• authorize
• empower
• approve
• endorse
• license
• indorse
• sanction
• liberate
• licence
• indulge
• commission
• cater (to)
• give in (to)
• free
• humor
• release

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• discourage
• prevent
• deter
• impede
• inhibit
• block
• bar
• curb
• constrain
• obstruct
• frustrate
• hold back

3

as in to tolerate

to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference

only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high

Synonyms & Similar Words

• let
• tolerate
• permit
• ignore
• suffer
• put up with
• forgive
• condone
• disregard
• overlook
• excuse
• brush (aside or off)
• pardon
• indulge
• cater (to)
• give in (to)
• wink (at)
• shrug off
• brook
• humor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevent
• prohibit
• block
• bar
• forbid
• constrain
• discourage
• deter
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• curb
• frustrate
• hold back

4

as in to admit

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly

I'll allow I probably said more than I should have

Synonyms & Similar Words

• admit
• confess
• acknowledge
• concede
• agree
• grant
• announce
• reveal
• disclose
• recognize
• own (up to)
• tell
• accept
• confirm
• declare
• unload
• affirm
• inform
• say
• come clean (about)
• expose
• impart
• publish
• profess
• communicate
• warn
• yield
• proclaim
• divulge
• betray
• fess (up)
• talk
• unburden
• spill
• breathe
• disburden
• broadcast
• avow
• unveil
• give away
• whisper
• break
• tip (off)
• leak
• wise (up)
• blab
• tattle
• squeal
• rat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• disallow
• contradict
• reject
• negate
• negative
• disclaim
• conceal
• dispute
• hide
• refute
• rebut
• cover (up)
• disavow
• repudiate
• disown
• obscure
• veil
• gainsay
• kid (oneself)

5

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion

allowed each camper one match to light his fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• allot
• assign
• allocate
• distribute
• give
• lot
• apportion
• ration
• divide
• dispense
• measure
• split
• administer
• grant
• portion
• deal
• share (out)
• contribute
• prorate
• hand out
• award
• part
• donate
• reserve
• dole out
• mete (out)
• earmark
• meter
• redistribute
• reassign
• accord
• parcel (out)
• reallocate
• admeasure
• reapportion
• chip in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• retain
• keep
• deprive (of)
• withhold
• begrudge
• stint
• appropriate
• confiscate
• arrogate

6

as in to enable

to make able or possible

a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enable
• let
• empower
• permit
• prepare
• ready
• equip
• approve
• qualify
• endorse
• sanction
• fit
• indorse
• condition
• habilitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevent
• preclude
• inhibit
• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• disallow

7

as in to reflect

to make a statement of one's opinion

he allowed that their new house looked very nice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reflect
• comment
• remark
• opine
• observe
• note
• say
• weigh in
• editorialize
• commentate
• speak
• speculate
• state
• verbalize
• tell
• express
• talk
• suppose
• utter
• articulate
• surmise
• guess
• daresay
• vocalize
• conjecture

8

as in to think

chiefly Southern & Midland to have as an opinion

people in these parts allow that everyone is entitled to one mistake in life, even if it's a doozy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• think
• believe
• consider
• guess
• imagine
• suppose
• deem
• feel
• figure
• hold
• judge
• conceive
• perceive
• accept
• assume
• reckon
• rely
• presume
• regard
• depend
• view
• esteem
• trust
• infer
• conclude
• presuppose
• deduce
• surmise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doubt
• suspect
• question
• reject
• discredit
• distrust
• mistrust
• disbelieve

9

as in to intend

chiefly Southern & Midland to have in mind as a purpose or goal

I allow to go hunting before the season is over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intend
• plan
• try
• go
• contemplate
• hope
• mean
• aim
• wish
• look
• propose
• calculate
• purpose
• purport
• aspire
• attempt
• design
• consider
• meditate
• figure on
• strive
• dream
• struggle
• achieve
• perform
• accomplish
• ponder
• execute
• debate
• endeavor
• scheme
• effect
• mull (over)
• plot

Examples of allow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such dual-economy arrangements later allowed the great imperial powers to make their commitment to free exchange, and to a degree of pluralism, commensurable with their ongoing subjugation of native peoples. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

The soft, flexible shoes actually allowed my feet to breathe, which was much needed after the concert. —Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2024

Identifying this early on can allow employers to assess whether additional training is available to help close the gap or if a stronger or more experienced candidate is needed for the position. - Christy Charise, Strategic Advisor 10. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Previously:Detroit Lions themed corn maze allows fans to weave through Dan Campbell's head 3. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing allow

• allow (for)
• allow (of)