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allow for

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

Make sure you have enough extra time, money, or space in case something unexpected happens.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To include extra time, money, or resources in a plan to cover possible problems or changes.

"When planning the trip, we allowed for possible delays at the border."

"We must allow for the possibility that we are wrong."

— Karl Popper, 'The Open Society and Its Enemies', 1945
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

To take a particular factor or circumstance into consideration when judging or assessing something.

"The teacher allowed for the fact that some students had missed a week of class."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 neutral

To make something possible; to create the conditions for something.

"The new software allows for much faster data processing."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common in planning and scheduling contexts. Often used with abstract nouns like 'delays', 'mistakes', or 'differences'. Cannot be separated.

Commonly used with

delays mistakes differences variations costs contingencies

Forms

Base
allow for
I/you/we/they
3rd person
allows for
he/she/it
Past simple
allowed for
yesterday
Past participle
allowed for
have + pp
-ing form
allowing for
continuous

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