ALLOWS Synonyms: 291 Similar and Opposite Words

allows

verb

present tense third-person singular of allow

as in permits

to give permission for or to approve of flash photography is not allowed inside the church

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Relevance

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as in lets

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

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as in tolerates

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

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as in admits

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly I'll allow I probably said more than I should have

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as in allots

to give as a share or portion allowed each camper one match to light his fire

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as in enables

to make able or possible a patient's canceled appointment allowed the doctor to squeeze in a few extra phone calls

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as in reflects

to make a statement of one's opinion he allowed that their new house looked very nice

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as in believes

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

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as in intends

chiefly Southern & Midland to have in mind as a purpose or goal I allow to go hunting before the season is over

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of allows The nicotine salt allows the nicotine to cross the blood-brain barrier more easily, making higher levels of nicotine more palatable, according to King. — Callie Teitelbaum, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 The law allows price caps on certain homes to keep them affordable, then restricts who can buy them, based on income. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026 That allows manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers developing vehicles on NVIDIA’s architecture to evaluate a lidar sensor already validated for the platform instead of spending additional engineering time proving compatibility. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026 This unique approach allows users to change their glasses style without buying multiple pairs. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 State law allows crossings outside marked crosswalks or intersections if they can be completed safely and don’t create a traffic hazard. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 The public sector’s service mission allows officials to consider AI as a tool to optimize services, Justie said, while companies with a profit focus might choose a different path. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026 The test of OpenAI’s models was supposed to take place in a digital sandbox, a supposedly inescapable lab environment that allows researchers to roll back safety barriers to discover the tool’s maximum hacking power. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 July 2026 In my experience, addressing these risks requires strengthening cybersecurity as a prior and permanent condition, because this allows the organization to manage and protect information while scaling AI with trust. — Susana Sierra, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for allows

Verb

The latest approval now permits the company to charge fares for rides, marking the first commercial exemption issued through the program.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
Although San Jose does not restrict collection box permits strictly to nonprofits, state law requires operators to clearly label whether a box is run by a for-profit or nonprofit organization.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Definition of permits

Verb

The sheer vocal power Grande calls from somewhere in her fragile-looking body lifts the gloom and lets the sunshine in.

— Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
An at-home device lets users build treatment into their routine consistently, which is often what drives the best outcomes and warranties can sweeten the deal, as with the CHROMA Skin Tech mask's two-year coverage.

— Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of lets

Verb

To bridge it, retailers must clearly communicate their needs, embrace experimentation, and foster a culture that tolerates pilot failures.

— Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Our constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens.

— Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026

Definition of tolerates

Verb

This enables comprehensive pre-arrival planning, reducing friction for guests and maximizing ancillary revenue for hotels.

— Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
This approach enables manufacturers to improve computing performance while overcoming the physical limits of traditional chip scaling.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

Definition of enables

Verb

Pan believes San Francisco is rebounding from its post-pandemic downturn, driven by AI growth.

— Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Whatever happens, Spoelstra believes the Heat is already in a good spot even after missing out on future Basketball Hall of Famer LeBron James.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026