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1. Make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
   "This sealed door won't allow the water to come into the basement";
   - let, permit
    
2. Consent to, give permission; permit
   "I cannot allow you to see your exam";
   - permit, let, countenance
    
3. Let have; give the right to; give the opportunity or permission to
   "Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison";
   - grant, accord, allot
    
4. Give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
   "I will allow this money for your research";
   - appropriate, earmark, set aside, reserve
    
5. Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain
   "The evidence allows only one conclusion"; "allow for mistakes";
   - leave, allow for, provide
    
6. Allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something
   "I allow for this possibility";
   - take into account, bear in mind
    
7. Afford possibility
   "This short story allows of several different interpretations";
   - admit
    
8. Allow the other (baseball) team to score
   "allow a run";
   - give up
    
9. Grant as a discount or in exchange
   "The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera"
    
10. Allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting
    "We don't allow dogs here";
    - permit, tolerate

Derived forms: allowed, allowing, allows

Type of: accept, afford, allot, assign, calculate, consent, count on, discount, estimate, figure, forecast, give, go for, portion, reckon, yield

Antonym: keep, refuse

Encyclopedia: Allow