allow

v.

1. To permit an action

   permit, let, sanction, grant, consent to, grant permission, give permission, suffer, tolerate, favor, be favorable to, agree to, yield, acquiesce, stand for, bear, privilege, accord, approve, approve of, give leave, accredit, endorse, certify, commission, humor, put no obstacles in the way of, gratify, have no objection, release, pass, indulge, be indulgent of, be permissive, oblige, authorize, license, warrant, empower, enable, entitle, put up with, brook, countenance, go along with, OK, leave*, give the green light*, give the go-ahead*, blink at*, give the reins to*, give free rein to*, grin and bear it*, leave the door open to*, hear of*, give one one's head*, give one leeway*, not blink an eye*, not bat an eye*; give carte blanche*, give a free hand*, let things take their course*, give one rope, give one line*, open the door to*, open the floodgates*.

   Antonyms deny*, forbid*, prohibit. *

2. To grant a request or assertion

   recognize, concede, acknowledge, support; see admit 3.

3. To include in an estimate

   provide, set aside, allot, concede, subtract, deduct, make allowance, give an allowance for, give at lower rates, add to, raise assessment.

allow and permit imply power or authority to give or deny consent, allow connoting a refraining from the enforcement of usual requirements honor students were allowed to miss the examinations, and permit more positively suggesting formal consent or authorization she was permitted to talk to the prisoner; let may imply positive consent but more often stresses the offering of no opposition or resistance, sometimes connoting negligence, lack of power, etc. don't let this happen again; suffer, now somewhat rare in this sense, is closely synonymous with allow and may connote passive consent or reluctant tolerance