afford
- afford
af|ford
W3S1 [əˈfo:d US -o:rd] v [T]
[: Old English; Origin: geforthian 'to carry out', from forth]
1.) can/could afford [usually negative]
a) to have enough money to buy or pay for something
afford [to do] sth
▪ We can't afford to go on vacation this year.
▪ I couldn't afford the rent on my own.
▪ How can she afford to eat out every night?
b) to have enough time to do something
▪ Dad can't afford any more time off work.
c) if you cannot afford to do something, you must not do it because it could cause serious problems for you
afford to do sth
▪ We can't afford to wait any longer or we'll miss the plane.
2.) formal to provide something or allow something to happen
▪ The room affords a beautiful view over the city.
afford (sb) an opportunity/chance
▪ It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills.
▪ The new law will afford protection to employees.
>affordable adj
▪ affordable housing
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HINT sense 1
Afford can be followed by an infinitive with 'to', but not an -ing form: I can't afford to buy (NOT can't afford buying/can't afford buy) a car.
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Dictionary of contemporary English.
2013.
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Look at other dictionaries:
Afford — Af*ford ([a^]f*f[=o]rd ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Afforded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Affording}.] [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor[eth]ian, for[eth]ian, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. for[eth] forth, forward. The prefix ge has no well defined sense. See… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
afford — [ə fôrd′] vt. [ME aforthen < OE geforthian, to advance < forthian, to further] 1. to have enough or the means for; bear the cost of without serious inconvenience: used with can or be able [I m not able to afford a car; can you afford the… … English World dictionary
afford — UK US /əˈfɔːd/ verb [T] ● can afford Cf. can afford … Financial and business terms
afford — (v.) O.E. geforðian to put forth, contribute; further, advance; carry out, accomplish, from ge completive prefix (see A (Cf. a ) (1)) + forðian to further, from forð forward, onward (see FORTH (Cf. forth)). Change of th to d took place late 16c.… … Etymology dictionary
afford — [v1] able to have or do; within financial means allow, be able to, bear, be disposed to, have enough for, have the means for, incur, manage, spare, stand, support, sustain; concepts 335,713 afford [v2] give, produce bestow, furnish, grant, impart … New thesaurus
afford — ► VERB 1) (can/could afford) have sufficient money, time, or means for. 2) provide (an opportunity or facility). DERIVATIVES affordability noun affordable adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «promote, perform»; related to FORTH(Cf. ↑ … English terms dictionary
afford — index administer (tender), allow (endure), bear (yieid), bequeath, bestow, contribute (supply) … Law dictionary
afford — *give, confer, bestow, present, donate Analogous words: *offer, proffer: *furnish: *grant, accord Antonyms: deny (something one wants, asks, hopes for) pm4]Contrasted words: withhold, hold, hold back (see KEEP): refuse, * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
afford */*/*/ — UK [əˈfɔː(r)d] / US [əˈfɔrd] verb [transitive] Word forms afford : present tense I/you/we/they afford he/she/it affords present participle affording past tense afforded past participle afforded Get it right: afford: Afford is never followed by a… … English dictionary
afford — v. 1) to well afford 2) (formal) (A) it afforded great pleasure to him; or: it afforded him great pleasure 3)(E; preceded by the forms: can cannot can t could) we cannot afford to buy a new house; we can ill afford to lose this contract 4)… … Combinatory dictionary
