afford
Americanverb (used with object)
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to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.
The country can't afford another drought.
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to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of.
Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.
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to be able to give or spare.
He can't afford the loss of a day.
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The transaction afforded him a good profit.
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to be capable of yielding or providing.
The records afford no explanation.
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to give or confer upon.
to afford great pleasure to someone.
verb
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to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences
we can afford to buy a small house
I can afford to give you one of my chess sets
we can't afford to miss this play
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to give, yield, or supply
the meeting afforded much useful information
Other Word Forms
- affordability noun
- affordable adjective
Etymology
Origin of afford
First recorded before 1050; Middle English aforthen, iforthen, Old English geforthian “to further, accomplish,” equivalent to ge- y- + forth forth + -ian infinitive suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I'd absolutely rather be out there working, but it's not feasible with having to afford childcare," she said.
From BBC
Wealth Management, noting “uncertainty is not a reason to freeze life” or “push you into aggressive spending” that you cannot afford.
From MarketWatch
Sir Michael remains a committed investor and philanthropist, but said the UK and Europe did not afford the same kind of unified market that was available in the US and China.
From BBC
"The insurance costs are so high that no vessel can afford or wants to risk going through the Strait at this time," said Amena Bakr, an oil specialist at market intelligence firm Kpler.
From Barron's
She added: "It's all down to cost cutting and we can't afford to have that as we provide a vital service."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
