allowed; allowing; allows
1
a
: permit
doesn't allow people to smoke in his home
b
: to fail to restrain or prevent
allow the dog to roam
2
a
: to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)
allow an hour for lunch
b
: to reckon as a deduction or an addition
allow a gallon for leakage
4
1
: to make a possibility : admit
—used with of
evidence that allows of only one conclusion
2
: to give consideration to circumstances or contingencies
—used with for
a plan that allows for expansion
3
: to give an opportunity : permit
She worked on the project here and there as time allowed.
This should take 5 minutes for 1 strength-cardio circuit combo. If time allows, repeat once more for a 10-minute workout or twice more for a 15-minute workout.—
Tracy Teare
Tracy TeareThis plan is being implemented in phases as funding allows.—Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Courier
Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) CourierExamples of allow in a Sentence
a religion that does not allow divorce
They don't allow smoking in this hotel.
I want to change my schedule, but my boss won't allow it.
My boss wouldn't allow me to change my schedule.
They don't allow people to smoke in this hotel.
Women were not allowed in the club.
The hospital doesn't allow visitors after 8 p.m.
Her schedule doesn't allow her any time to run errands.
The system allows you to transfer data easily from one computer to another.
Occasional gaps allow passage through the mountains.
Recent Examples on the Web
Book Now Como Parrot Cay is part of Comoclub, a loyalty program that allows travelers to accumulate credits to use toward future stays.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Cumrige Self-Cleaning Litter Box This self-cleaning litter box allows cats (up to 33 pounds) to do their business in private.
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How crypto founders can get rich quick Crypto founders are enjoying soaring valuations as the market catches fire by utilizing secondary sales, which allow investors to purchase shares of a company from the founder itself.
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While this textile breaks the rule and its unique lattice pattern allows the textile to expand around the arm rather than clamp down, according to researchers.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Cumrige Self-Cleaning Litter Box This self-cleaning litter box allows cats (up to 33 pounds) to do their business in private.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
How crypto founders can get rich quick Crypto founders are enjoying soaring valuations as the market catches fire by utilizing secondary sales, which allow investors to purchase shares of a company from the founder itself.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
While this textile breaks the rule and its unique lattice pattern allows the textile to expand around the arm rather than clamp down, according to researchers.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow
Cite this Entry
“Allow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
allow
verb
al·low
ə-ˈlau̇ 
1
a
: to assign as a share or suitable amount (as of time or money)
b
: to take into consideration as a deduction or an addition
allow a gallon for leakage
2
: admit sense 1b, concede
allowed that the situation was serious
3
: permit entry 1
gaps allow passage
will not allow smoking
4
: to give thought to what will probably happen later
allow for growth
allowable
adjective
-ə-bəl
allowably
adverb
-blē
Legal Definition
allow
transitive verb
al·low
ə-ˈlau̇
: to give approval of or permission for: as
a
: to grant fulfillment of
allowed her petition for relief
b
: to decide in favor of
allow a deduction on a tax return
c
: to permit to be presented
allows his claim
more jurisdictions will allow the cause of action
allowability
noun
ə-ˌlau̇-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē
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