allow for

verb

To take into account, consider.

“You must allow for the fact that his hearing isn't very good.”

Similar
leaveallowprovideadmit
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Meanings

verballow for (third-person singular simple present allows for, present participle allowing for, simple past and past participle allowed for)

present singular third person allows for · participle present allowing for · participle past allowed for · past allowed for

  1. transitiveTo take into account, consider.

    You must allow for the fact that his hearing isn't very good.

    1 more example

    The problem is that they didn't allow for the extra centimetre of overlap, so it didn't fit correctly.

  2. transitiveTo make possible; to allow.

    The gap between my classes allowed for me and my friends to go eat lunch.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbmake a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain

Similar
leaveallowprovideadmit
Broader
yieldgiveafford
Also see
admitallowleaveprovide

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Czech vzít v potaz
  • vzít v potazto take into account
Polish brać pod uwagę, wziąć pod uwagę
  • brać pod uwagęto take into account
  • wziąć pod uwagęto take into account
Russian учи́тывать, уче́сть
  • учи́тывать (učítyvatʹ)to take into account
  • уче́сть (učéstʹ)to take into account
Cite this entry
APA

allow for. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allow%20for

MLA

“allow for.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allow%20for. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “allow for,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allow%20for.

Source: allow for on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.