allow

Verb

Synonyms: let permit countenance grant appropriate earmark set aside reserve leave allow for provide take into account

WordNet 3.0

Verb (10)

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen“This permits the water to rush in”“This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement”“This will permit the rain to run off”Synonyms: let permit
consent to, give permission“She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband”“I won't let the police search her basement”“I cannot allow you to see your exam”Synonyms: permit let countenance
let have“grant permission”“Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison”Synonyms: grant
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause“I will earmark this money for your research”“She sets aside time for meditation every day”Synonyms: appropriate earmark set aside reserve
make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain“This leaves no room for improvement”“The evidence allows only one conclusion”“allow for mistakes”“leave lots of time for the trip”“This procedure provides for lots of leeway”Synonyms: leave allow for provide
allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something“I allow for this possibility”“The seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash”Synonyms: take into account
afford possibility“This problem admits of no solution”“This short story allows of several different interpretations”Synonyms: admit
allow the other (baseball) team to score“give up a run”Synonyms: give up
grant as a discount or in exchange“The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera”
allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting“We don't allow dogs here”“Children are not permitted beyond this point”“We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital”Synonyms: permit tolerate

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Allow \Al*low"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Allowing.] [OE. alouen, OF. alouer, aloer, aluer, F. allouer, fr. LL. allocare to admit as proved, to place, use; confused with OF. aloer, fr. L. allaudare to extol; ad + laudare to praise. See Local, and cf. Allocate, Laud.]

1.To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction. [Obs. or Archaic] [1913 Webster]

Ye allow the deeds of your fathers.— Luke xi. 48.[1913 Webster]

We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his learning.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

2.To like; to be suited or pleased with. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

How allow you the model of these clothes?— Massinger.[1913 Webster]

3.To sanction; to invest; to intrust. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Thou shalt be . . . allowed with absolute power.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have; as, to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest. [1913 Webster]

He was allowed about three hundred pounds a year.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

5.To own or acknowledge; to accept as true; to concede; to accede to an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the truth of a proposition. [1913 Webster]

I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct . . . was highly reprehensible.— Thackeray.[1913 Webster]

6.To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; esp. to abate or deduct; as, to allow a sum for leakage. [1913 Webster]

7.To grant license to; to permit; to consent to; as, to allow a son to be absent. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To allot; assign; bestow; concede; admit; permit; suffer; tolerate. See Permit. [1913 Webster]

Allow \Al*low"\, v. i. To admit; to concede; to make allowance or abatement. [1913 Webster]

Allowing still for the different ways of making it. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

To allow of, to permit; to admit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]