phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

allow for

to consider in advance

What it means

To take something into consideration in advance, especially when planning or estimating. It is inseparable and often used with time, money, or unexpected problems.

Examples

  • You should allow for traffic when planning your drive to the airport.
  • The recipe allows for two extra guests, just in case.
  • We need to allow for some delays during the construction phase.
  • Even allowing for inflation, prices in that city are extremely high.

Where it comes from

A phrase used since the 1600s, where 'allow' carries its older sense of 'set aside' or 'concede'. It is common in planning, finance, and engineering language, but is also fine in everyday speech.

Related phrasal verbs

#account for#make up for#set aside#put off

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