Allows is a verb meaning to give permission or enable something to happen. In usage, it often precedes a verb (e.g., allows you to travel) and can convey allowance or permitment within rules or conditions. It’s commonly used in formal and informational contexts, as well as everyday speech when stating permissions or possibilities.
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US: /əˈlaʊz/ with rhoticization in surrounding words; UK: /əˈlaʊz/ non-rhotic context doesn’t change the word itself, but preceding/ following vowels may vocalize differently; AU: similar to US with slightly more centralized initial vowel; all share /ˈlaʊ/ pattern; focus on diphthong management and voicing of /z/.
"The policy allows visitors to enter after showing ID."
"Her schedule allows time for a quick review before the meeting."
"The app allows you to customize notifications."
"Economic constraints allowed him to pursue studies abroad."
Allows derives from the verb allow, which originates from Old French alouer, from a-vouer (‘to entrust’ or ‘to grant’) and ultimately from Latin ad- ‘toward’ + lobor, root related to praise or credit. The sense evolved in Middle English to mean grant or admit permission, with the -s suffix forming the third-person singular present tense in modern English. Early uses emphasized authorization within rules or conditions, often in legal or procedural contexts. Over time, the nuance broadened to include enabling circumstances, not just formal permissions. First known attestations appear in late medieval or early modern English texts, reflecting growing bureaucratic and organizational discourse that necessitated precise terms for granting permission or enabling action. The word’s durability stems from its utility in both formal documentation and everyday conversation about permissions, rights, and possibilities.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "allows" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "allows" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "allows"
-ows sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /əˈlaʊz/ in US/UK/AU. Start with a lightly reduced first syllable /ə/, followed by stressed /ˈlaʊ/ with the diphthong /aʊ/ as in now, and end with /z/. The stress falls on the second syllable: a-LAUS. Mouth positions: lips neutral or slightly rounded for /ə/, tongue high-mid for /laʊ/ with a small glide from /l/ to /aʊ/, voice on /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative. Audio reference: consider listening to native speakers on Pronounce or YouGlish to feel the diphthong movement.
Two frequent errors: 1) misplacing stress, pronouncing as a-L-ows with incorrect stress on the first syllable; 2) shortening the /aʊ/ diphthong to a monophthong /a/ or /ɔː/ in rapid speech, making it sound like /ə-lɔːz/. Correction: maintain the /ˈlaʊ/ diphthong with a clear glide from /l/ to /aɪ/; keep the final /z/ voice. Practice slow phoneme isolation and then cascade into connected speech.
US/UK/AU share /əˈlaʊz/ on primary metrics, with rhoticity affecting preceding vowel quality slightly; in non-rhotic UK, you may hear subtle float of /r/ absence in adjacent contexts but not in isolated word. Australian tends to be a more centralized /ə/ and a less tense /aʊ/ quality with a slightly shorter vowel, but the core /ˈlaʊ/ remains. Overall, the difference is minor but noticeable in intonation and vowel length in connected speech.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable rhythm with a strong second-syllable diphthong /aʊ/ and a voiced final /z/. Beginners may misplace the stress or shorten the /aʊ/, producing /əˈlɔːz/ or /əˈlaːz/. Another common issue is blending the final /z/ with the preceding consonant in fast speech. Practicing the diphthong carefully and maintaining the alveolar /z/ voice helps clarity.
No silent letters in this form; the word has a clear two-syllable count with primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈlaʊz/. The initial syllable is typically unstressed, reducing to a schwa. The final sound is a voiced alveolar fricative /z/. The key unique point is the diphthong /aʊ/ that requires a controlled mouth glide from/toward/ a short /l/ onset. Paying attention to diphthong rounding helps avoid turning it into /əˈlaːz/.
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