Allows — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈlau̇/ al·low

Meaning & Definition of Allows

Allows (verb)

  1. permit
  2. to fail to restrain or prevent
  3. to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)
  4. to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
  5. to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
  6. to make (something) possible
  7. to make (something) possible, permit

Allows (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give permission for or to approve of

    "flash photography is not allowed inside the church"

    similar: green-lights, has, permits, suffers, stands for
    related: authorizes, commissions, licenses, accedes (to), acquiesces, agrees (to), assents (to), consents (to), OKs, warrants, accords, concedes, grants, sanctions, vouchsafes, admits, brooks, condones, countenances, endures, supports, tolerates
    opposite: bans, enjoins, forbids, prohibits, proscribes, vetoes
    near: hinders, impedes, obstructs, censures, denies, disallows, disapproves, interdicts, refuses, rejects, revokes, suppresses, withholds, deplores, discountenances, disfavors, dislikes, frowns (at or on), grudges, checks, curbs, keeps, represses, restrains

  2. to give permission to

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

    similar: leaves, lets, permits
    related: authorizes, commissions, empowers, licenses, approves, endorses, sanctions, frees, liberates, releases, caters (to), gives in (to), humors, indulges
    opposite: enjoins, forbids, prohibits
    near: deters, discourages, bars, blocks, constrains, curbs, frustrates, holds back, impedes, inhibits, obstructs, prevents

  3. 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"

    similar: lets, permits, suffers, tolerates, puts up with
    related: brushes (aside or off), condones, disregards, ignores, overlooks, shrugs off, winks (at), excuses, forgives, pardons, brooks, caters (to), gives in (to), humors, indulges
    opposite: bars, blocks, constrains, prevents
    near: forbids, prohibits, curbs, deters, discourages, frustrates, holds back, impedes, inhibits, interferes (with)

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

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

    similar: acknowledges, admits, agrees, concedes, confesses, fesses (up), grants, owns (up to), comes clean (about)
    related: disburdens, unburdens, unloads, affirms, avows, confirms, professes, accepts, recognizes, yields, announces, breaks, broadcasts, communicates, declares, discloses, divulges, imparts, proclaims, publishes, reveals, spills, tells, unveils, betrays, blabs, exposes, gives away, informs, leaks, rats, squeals, talks, tattles, tips (off), warns, wises (up), breathes, says, whispers
    opposite: denies
    near: disallows, disavows, disclaims, disowns, contradicts, disputes, gainsays, negates, negatives, rebuts, refutes, rejects, repudiates, conceals, covers (up), hides, obscures, veils, kids (oneself)

  5. to give as a share or portion

    "allowed each camper one match to light his fire"

    similar: allocates, allots, apportions, assigns, distributes, lots, rations
    related: admeasures, administers, deals, dispenses, divides, doles out, hands out, measures, meters, metes (out), parcels (out), parts, portions, prorates, shares (out), splits, accords, awards, gives, grants, earmarks, reserves, chips in, contributes, donates, reallocates, reapportions, reassigns, redistributes
    near: begrudges, denies, deprives (of), keeps, retains, stints, withholds, appropriates, arrogates, confiscates

  6. to make able or possible

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

    similar: empowers, enables, lets, permits
    related: fits, habilitates, prepares, qualifies, readies, approves, endorses, sanctions, conditions, equips
    opposite: prevents
    near: inhibits, precludes, disallows, enjoins, forbids, prohibits

  7. to make a statement of one's opinion

    "he allowed that their new house looked very nice"

    similar: comments, editorializes, notes, observes, opines, reflects, remarks, weighs in
    related: commentates, articulates, expresses, says, speaks, states, talks, tells, utters, verbalizes, vocalizes, conjectures, daresays, guesses, speculates, supposes, surmises

  8. 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"

    similar: believes, conceives, considers, deems, esteems, feels, figures, guesses, holds, imagines, judges, reckons (chiefly dialect), supposes, thinks
    related: regards, views, accepts, perceives, depends, relies, trusts, assumes, presumes, presupposes, surmises, concludes, deduces, infers
    near: distrusts, doubts, mistrusts, questions, suspects, disbelieves, discredits, rejects

  9. to have in mind as a purpose or goal

    "I allow to go hunting before the season is over"

    similar: aims, aspires, calculates, contemplates, designs, goes (chiefly Southern & Midland), intends, looks, means, meditates, plans, proposes, purports, purposes, figures on
    related: dreams, hopes, wishes, considers, debates, mulls (over), ponders, attempts, endeavors, strives, struggles, tries, plots, schemes, accomplishes, achieves, effects, executes, performs

Related Entry: Allow (verb)

Allow is a different word from Allows. The synonyms below are for allow, not for allows.

  1. to give permission for or to approve of

    "flash photography is not allowed inside the church"

    similar: green-light, have, permit, suffer, stand for
    related: authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), OK, warrant, accord, concede, grant, sanction, vouchsafe, admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, tolerate
    opposite: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto
    near: hinder, impede, obstruct, censure, deny, disallow, disapprove, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold, deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge, check, curb, keep, repress, restrain

  2. to give permission to

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

    similar: leave, let, permit
    related: authorize, commission, empower, license, approve, endorse, sanction, free, liberate, release, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: enjoin, forbid, prohibit
    near: deter, discourage, bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

  3. 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"

    similar: let, permit, suffer, tolerate, put up with
    related: brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at), excuse, forgive, pardon, brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: bar, block, constrain, prevent
    near: forbid, prohibit, curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)

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

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

    similar: acknowledge, admit, agree, concede, confess, fess (up), grant, own (up to), come clean (about)
    related: disburden, unburden, unload, affirm, avow, confirm, profess, accept, recognize, yield, announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil, betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up), breathe, say, whisper
    opposite: deny
    near: disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown, contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative, rebut, refute, reject, repudiate, conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil, kid (oneself)

  5. to give as a share or portion

    "allowed each camper one match to light his fire"

    similar: allocate, allot, apportion, assign, distribute, lot, ration
    related: admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split, accord, award, give, grant, earmark, reserve, chip in, contribute, donate, reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute
    near: begrudge, deny, deprive (of), keep, retain, stint, withhold, appropriate, arrogate, confiscate

  6. to make able or possible

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

    similar: empower, enable, let, permit
    related: fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, approve, endorse, sanction, condition, equip
    opposite: prevent
    near: inhibit, preclude, disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

  7. to make a statement of one's opinion

    "he allowed that their new house looked very nice"

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

  8. 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"

    similar: believe, conceive, consider, deem, esteem, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, reckon (chiefly dialect), suppose, think
    related: regard, view, accept, perceive, depend, rely, trust, assume, presume, presuppose, surmise, conclude, deduce, infer
    near: distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, suspect, disbelieve, discredit, reject

  9. to have in mind as a purpose or goal

    "I allow to go hunting before the season is over"

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

Related Entry: Allow (for) (verb)

Allow (for) is a different word from Allows. The synonyms below are for allow (for), not for allows.

  1. to give consideration to (as unexpected circumstances or contingencies)

    "budget your time to allow for the possibility of unexpected problems"

    similar: consider, factor (in or into), provide (for), regard, figure on, reckon with, take account of, take into account
    related: accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, anticipate, contemplate, envisage, expect, foresee, assume, presume, presuppose, plan, calculate, face
    opposite: discount, disregard
    near: factor (out)

Related Entry: Allow (of) (verb)

Allow (of) is a different word from Allows. The synonyms below are for allow (of), not for allows.

  1. to make possible especially to the exclusion of other possibilities

    "I'm afraid the problem doesn't allow of any other solution"

    similar: admit (of), permit (of)
    related: open up, favor, justify, support, sustain, validate, need, take, want, warrant
    near: close out, disallow, enjoin, exclude, forbid, negative, preclude, rule out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Allows

The most common words with a similar meaning to Allows:

Chiefly dialect: reckons
Chiefly Southern & Midland: goes
green-lights, has, permits, suffers, leaves, lets, tolerates, acknowledges, admits, agrees, concedes, confesses, fesses (up), grants, owns (up to), allocates, allots, apportions, assigns, distributes, lots, rations, empowers, enables, comments, editorializes, notes, observes, opines, reflects, remarks, weighs in, believes, conceives, considers, deems, esteems, feels, figures, guesses

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Allows

Words with the opposite meaning of Allows:

bans, enjoins, forbids, prohibits, proscribes, vetoes, bars, blocks, constrains, prevents, denies

Related Words for Allows

authorizes, commissions, licenses, accedes (to), acquiesces, agrees (to), assents (to), consents (to), OKs, warrants, accords, sanctions, vouchsafes, brooks, condones, countenances, endures, supports, approves, endorses, frees, liberates, releases, caters (to), gives in (to), humors, indulges, brushes (aside or off), disregards, ignores

Near Antonyms of Allows

hinders, impedes, obstructs, censures, disallows, disapproves, interdicts, refuses, rejects, revokes, suppresses, withholds, deplores, discountenances, disfavors, dislikes, frowns (at or on), grudges, checks, curbs, keeps, represses, restrains, deters, discourages, frustrates, holds back, inhibits, interferes (with), disavows

Word Forms of Allows

Inflections: allowed, allowing, allowed for, allowing for, allows for, allowed of, allowing of, allows of

Origin & Etymology of Allows

Middle English alowen, allowen "to commend, approve of, legally recognize, permit, take into account, compensate," borrowed from Anglo-French aluer, aloer "to place, allot, commend, accept as legally valid, permit, take into account, assess," probably in part from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + loer "to praise," going back to Latin laudāre; in part going back to Medieval Latin allocāre "to place, admit, credit" laud:2, allocate

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Allows

What does "Allows" mean?

"Allows" means permit. As a verb, it is defined as: permit. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Allows"?

Other words for "Allows" include green-lights, has, permits, suffers, leaves, lets, tolerates and acknowledges. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Allows" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Allows"?

There are 216 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Allows". Common alternatives include green-lights, has, permits, suffers, leaves, lets, tolerates, acknowledges, admits and agrees.

What is the opposite of "Allows"?

Antonyms of "Allows" include bans, enjoins, forbids, prohibits, proscribes, vetoes, bars and blocks. Near antonyms include hinders, impedes, obstructs and censures.

How do you use "Allows" in a sentence?

Examples of "Allows" in a sentence: "flash photography is not allowed inside the church"; "a boarding school that does not allow students to go on weekend trips without written permission"; "only a lazy gardener would allow the weeds to grow that high".

Is "Allows" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Allows" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Allows"?

"Allows" is pronounced /ə-ˈlau̇/ and divided into syllables as al·low.

What is the origin of the word "Allows"?

"Allows" comes from Middle English alowen, allowen "to commend, approve of, legally recognize, permit, take into account, compensate," borrowed from Anglo-French aluer, aloer "to place, allot, commend, accept as legally valid, permit, take into account, assess," probably in part from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + loer "to praise," going back to Latin laudāre; in part going back to Medieval Latin allocāre "to place, admit, credit" laud:2, allocate. First known use: 14th centuryt.