allowed
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
An inflected form of allow · past form.
How often you will meet it
Rank 924 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 19,932 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.009% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen also: let, permit This permits the water to rush inThis sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement
- consent to, give permission also: permit, let, countenance She permitted her son to visit her estranged husbandI won't let the police search her basement
- let have also: grant grant permissionMandela was allowed few visitors in prison
- give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause also: appropriate, earmark, set aside, reserve I will earmark this money for your researchShe sets aside time for meditation every day
- make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain also: leave, allow for, provide This leaves no room for improvementThe evidence allows only one conclusion
- allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something also: take into account I allow for this possibilityThe seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash
allowed in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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It is strange, certainly, but no one must be allowed to notice it.’
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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And large engineering affairs were allowed to go and rack and ruin while Henry McLean watched his son.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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He had just undergone an attack of delirium tremens and was in no condition to be allowed at large.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1
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In spite of all, he had, during the early months of his marriage, allowed his wife to have a young servant.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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But now, as soon as she was allowed to go out and play in the garden, she took the book with her.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1