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

New windows can provide a more pleasing look, allow better visibility to the outside world, and—in some cases—completely transform the appearance of your home. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2024

The 45th parallel is halfway between the equator and the North Pole, and allows each location to have the same angle of the sun and length of day. —Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 22 Sep. 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would take whatever action was necessary to restore security in the north and allow people to return to their homes. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 22 Sep. 2024

The same, too, could be said of a USC defensive front that allowed 290 yards on the ground. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing allow

• allow (for)
• allow (of)