afford
[verb]
Synonyms:
- can afford: spare, bear, manage, stand, sustain
- give, offer, produce, provide, render, supply, yield

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

af‧ford S1 W3 /əˈfɔːd $ -ɔːrd/ verb [transitive]
[Language: 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) something
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 something
We can’t afford to wait any longer or we’ll miss the plane.
► 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) a car.

2. formal to provide something or allow something to happen:
The room affords a beautiful view over the city.
afford (somebody) an opportunity/chance
It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills.
The new law will afford protection to employees.
—affordable adjective:
affordable housing

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

afford
verb
ADV. easily, well She can well afford to pay for herself.
barely, hardly, ill, (only) just, not really an amount which we could ill afford to pay
VERB + AFFORD be able/unable to, can/can't, could (not) I can't afford to eat in restaurants.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

afford
verb
BAD: My father couldn't afford paying for my education.
GOOD: My father couldn't afford to pay for my education.

Usage Note:
afford (to do) sth : 'Not many couples can afford to run two cars nowadays.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲