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
• suffer
• stand for
• authorize
• green-light
• admit
• license
• acquiesce
• agree (to)
• concede
• grant
• consent (to)
• OK
• sanction
• accede (to)
• endure
• warrant
• condone
• support
• commission
• assent (to)
• vouchsafe
• accord
• countenance
• 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
• sanction
• liberate
• indulge
• free
• cater (to)
• give in (to)
• release
• commission
• humor

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
• administer
• grant
• split
• 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
• fit
• condition
• habilitate
• sanction

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of allow

Conventional propulsion, obviously, allows higher cruising speeds of up to 17 knots. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2026

Bots are allowed to make edits, but organizations must disclose agentic use and get prior approval from the community, Wikimedia says, noting that OpenAI didn’t. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

The project is interconnected with the Southern California Edison grid, meaning excess energy may be exported as well as allowing the parks to draw energy from the project when needed. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

According to MoDOT, the full closure will allow construction to be completed quicker, safer and more cost-effectively than keeping lanes open. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing allow

• allow (for)
• allow (of)