1
general::
allow
to say that someone can do something – used about parents, teachers, or people in authority:
• They don’t allow students to chew gum in the classroom. • I’m not allowed to stay out after ten o'clock.
let
[ not in passive ] to allow someone to do something. Let is not used in the passive, and is much more commonly used in everyday English than allow:
• Will your Mum let you come to the party? • I’ll borrow John’s bicycle, if he’ll let me.
permit
formal if something is permitted, it is allowed according to the rules - used especially on written notices and announcements:
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
give somebody permission
used when someone in an important official position decides to allow someone to do something:
• He was given special permission to leave school early. • The Home Office has given him permission to stay in Britain indefinitely.
give your consent
to say that you will allow someone to do something that will affect you personally, or a member of your family, when you have a legal right to say ‘no’:
• Her parents have given their consent to the marriage. • You can’t build on someone’s land without the owner’s consent.
give something the go-ahead
to officially allow a planned project or activity to happen:
• The government finally gave the go-ahead for a new terminal at Heathrow airport. • A new nuclear plant has been given the go-ahead.
authorize
to officially or legally allow someone to do something - used about laws or people:
• The UN resolution would authorize the use of force. • I never authorized them to give information about me to other banks.
entitle
to give someone the right to do or have something:
• The pass entitles you to travel on any bus, at any time, in Norwich. • If the goods are faulty, the customer is entitled to a refund.
sanction
formal to give official approval and support for something:
• The Truman administration refused to sanction a military attack. • The advertisements were sanctioned by the candidate himself.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
allow for sth
to consider something when you are planning something
• We allowed for living expenses of £20 a day.
• [ + -ing verb ]: You should allow for the plane being delayed.
• We have to allow for the possibility that we might not finish on schedule., allow of sth
formal
If a rule or situation allows of something, it makes it possible
• This rule allows of no exceptions.
• The evidence allows of only one interpretation - he was murdered by his wife.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs