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to allow in

to allow in

172 1.3
Let someone or something enter a place
  • phrasal verb
  • /əˈlaʊ ɪn/
translation icon : dejar entrar (a alguien)
  • I wasn't allowed in the room.
  • allow students in
  • allow the parties in

Hey, that room, you're not you're not allowed in there, Sean.

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Examples

  • You know you're not allowed to be in here.

  • Do you think your mother would be allowed in and out of the city?

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Of course, he never would have allowed a dog in the house either.

  • No weapons allowed in Holy City.

  • So you find the control points at the beginning of the highways... ...and those with tickets are allowed in and those without tickets are not.

  • And as I was being kicked around, I'd actually just feel grateful for being allowed in the game.

  • There's no students allowed in the building at lunch time.

  • You're not allowed in the hotel.

  • Passengers aren't allowed in there.

  • You are not allowed in the concert venue without a ticket.

Synonyms

to allow
vsto allow in
1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

is used specifically for giving permission to enter a physical place
to permit
vsto allow in
531 1.5

To allow someone to do something

focuses only on permission for entry into a place rather than broad permissions
to let in
vsto allow in
252 1.0

Allow someone or something to enter a place

is a general phrasal expression for permitting entry into a place
to admit
vsto allow in
188 1.6

Allow someone to enter a place

is the phrasal verb form used for the same entry permission
to ask in
vsto allow in
12 1.0

Invite someone to come into a room or house

is permission to enter without implying a polite invitation by the host
to intromit
vsto allow in
  • Archaic
9.9

To let a person or thing enter a place

is the modern common expression rather than the old fashioned form

Antonyms

299 3.3

To officially say that something is not allowed by law

31 3.3

To officially prevent someone from entering or taking part

How Permitted

to admit
188 1.6
to allow in
172 1.3
to invite
1.0

Surface Forms

allow in infinitive
allowed in past
allowed in past participle
allowing in present participle
allows in third person singular

Morphology

allow + in

The meaning 'to permit (someone) to enter' is directly and transparently composed from 'allow' (to permit) plus the directional particle 'in' (into/inside); the particle adds the entry/directional sense in a fully predictable way. This verb + particle construction is productive and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Allow in comes from the simple image of opening a door and letting someone enter. To allow means to give permission and in shows movement inside, so allow in means 'to permit' someone or something 'to enter'.