allow for
phrasal verb
allowed for; allowing for; allows for
1
: to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
When purchasing property, the company should allow for possible future growth/expansion.
2
: to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
The total distance, allowing for detours, is about 10 miles.
If you allow for inflation, he's actually earning less money now than he was 10 years ago.
3
: to make (something) possible
The design of the system allows for easy upgrades.
Examples of allow for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The personalized attention allows for specific accommodations—whether that means additional processing time, alternative approaches to challenging subjects, or regular movement breaks to support focus.
—
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
While alternative equipment can sometimes be used for supersets, certain machines allow for heavier resistance and may be necessary for a specific exercise.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Sycamore and Walgreens have both insisted the purchase will allow for the company, which has already closed many of its stores, to complete the turnaround more quickly.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
The signal upgrades in this plan allow for faster service, saving passengers approximately 12,000 hours on weekdays; the new subway cars can run six times longer between breakdowns than today’s oldest cars.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow for
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Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
While alternative equipment can sometimes be used for supersets, certain machines allow for heavier resistance and may be necessary for a specific exercise.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Sycamore and Walgreens have both insisted the purchase will allow for the company, which has already closed many of its stores, to complete the turnaround more quickly.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
The signal upgrades in this plan allow for faster service, saving passengers approximately 12,000 hours on weekdays; the new subway cars can run six times longer between breakdowns than today’s oldest cars.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for allow for
Cite this Entry
“Allow for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allow%20for. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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