afford

present (v1)

afford

past (v2)

afforded

past participle (v3)

afforded

present participle

affording

3rd person singular

affords

1. 1.To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; (usually after an expression of ability, as could, able, difficult) to be able or rich enough; to spare.

   • Ms Camisa and her husband have had to rejig their finances to afford tuition.
   • If a party member can afford the fee, then the syncophants^([sic]) will go to work.
   • I think we can afford the extra hour it will take. We can only afford to buy a small car at the moment.

2. 2.To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.

   • A good life affords consolation in old age.
   • Writing a “Treehouse of Horror” segment has to be both exhilarating and daunting. It’s exhilarating because it affords writers all the freedom in the world.

Overall

Common· #1841

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• give
• yield

Word family

• affordable