Synonyms for allow
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Permit — to let one have as a suitable share of something
permit, give, grant, afford, authorize UK US, authorise UK, bestow, allot, yield, assign, apportion, license US, licence UK, spare
2. Tolerate — to not bar or obstruct
tolerate, put up with informal, admit, endure, pass, bear, swallow, confess, brook, suffer dated
3. Acknowledge — to acknowledge, accept the truth of; to concede; to accede to an opinion; to say something one agrees on in…
acknowledge, concede, recognize UK US, recognise UK, own, acquiesce, accede, accord, avow, assent
4. Let — to permit, to give permission to
let, countenance, consent dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To let one have as a suitable share of something.
to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest
- v. 2
To permit, to give permission to.
I will allow my son to be absent.
- v. 3
To not bar or obstruct.
Smoking (is) allowed only in designated areas.
- v. 4
To acknowledge, accept the truth of; to concede; to accede to an opinion; to say something one agrees on in the context of a larger disagreement or reluctance.
to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow an appeal
Related words
- Word family
- allowability allowable allowance allowingly
- Phrases
- allow for
Forms
- Past participle
- allowed
e.g. allowed → permitted, given, granted, afforded…
Choose the right word
We allow that which we do not attempt to hinder; we permit that to which we give some express authorization. Suffer, in the sense of mild concession, is now becoming rare, its place being taken by allow, permit, or tolerate.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- grant My father, God grant him peace, was an accountant.
- afford I can't afford to shop at such an expensive store.
- permit My father would not permit me to go on to college.
- bestow That's a real strongman, bestow upon him a goblet of wine!
- tolerate I would say that I tolerate cold better than heat.
- endure They had to endure great hardship during the war.
By length
- 3 letters
- own1, let1
- 4 letters
- give1, pass1, bear1, avow2
- 5 letters
- leave1, grant1, admit2, spare1, yield1, brook1, allot2, abate2
- 6 letters
- afford2, suffer2, enable3, permit2, endure2, accord2, assign2, deduct2, bestow2, assent2, accede2
- 7 letters
- provide2, license2, consent2, approve2, justify3, licence2, swallow2, confess2, concede2, empower3
- 8 letters
- tolerate3, sanction2
- 9 letters
- recognize3, recognise3, authorize3, authorise, acquiesce3, apportion3
- 11 letters
- appropriate4, acknowledge3, countenance3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (avow2 = 2 syllables).