afford

IPA/əˈfɔːd/
KK[əfˈɔrd]IPA/əˈfɔːrd/

afford — verb

  • affordpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • affordshe / she / it
  • affordedpast simple
  • affording-ing form

1. to have what is needed in money, time, or similar resources for something

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to have what is needed in money, time, or similar resources for something

Example

Lena can afford a small car now that she has two jobs.

afford + noun

After the sale, we could finally afford new school uniforms.

Common collocations
  • afford a car
  • afford the rent
  • afford new staff
  • afford to study
  • afford the time
Synonyms
  • pay for

    focuses only on money actually spent, not time or other resources

  • manage

    more informal and often suggests some effort or difficulty

  • finance

    more formal; often used for arranging or providing the money

Antonyms
  • lack

    broad word showing that the needed money, time, or means are missing

  • go without

    means you do not get something because you cannot have it

Grammar Patterns

afford something

afford to do something

Usage Note

Often appears with 'can', 'can't', or 'could', followed by either a noun or a to-infinitive. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about having enough resources, not about the danger created by a mistake or loss.

Common Mistakes

I can't afford buying a new phone.
I can't afford to buy a new phone.
after 'afford', use 'to + verb', not the -ing form.
We can't afford the time to wait three more days.
We can't afford to wait three more days.
use the to-infinitive when the idea is an action, not a price.

2. used to say that a mistake, delay, loss, or extra cost would cause serious troub

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

used to say that a mistake, delay, loss, or extra cost would cause serious trouble if it happened

Example

With two finals tomorrow, Jay cannot afford a late night.

cannot afford + noun = cannot risk

The team cannot afford to lose another home game this week.

cannot afford to + verb

Common collocations
  • cannot afford a mistake
  • cannot afford delays
  • cannot afford to lose
  • cannot afford extra costs
  • cannot afford to wait
Synonyms
  • risk

    close in negative sentences; focuses on the danger you would face

  • spare

    best when the missing thing is time, money, or people you cannot give up

  • allow

    broader and less vivid; often used when a situation leaves no room for an error

Grammar Patterns

cannot afford something

cannot afford to do something

Usage Note

Usually appears in negative or near-negative forms such as 'can't', 'couldn't', or 'can hardly'. Distinguish from sense 1: the main point here is the harmful result of something happening, not simply whether you have enough money or time.

Common Mistakes

I can't afford to miss the train ticket.
I can't afford the train ticket.
use sense 1 for the price of something; sense 2 is about the serious result of missing, losing, or delaying something.
The company can't afford losing clients.
The company can't afford to lose clients.
after 'afford', use 'to + verb', not the -ing form.

3. to offer or make available something useful, pleasant, or needed

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to offer or make available something useful, pleasant, or needed

Example

The cabin windows afford a wide view of the snowy lake.

afford + a view

This job affords young cooks a chance to train abroad.

afford somebody something

Common collocations
  • afford a view
  • afford access
  • afford shade
  • afford an opportunity
  • afford protection
Synonyms
  • provide

    the closest neutral verb for supplying something useful or needed

  • offer

    often suggests making something available as an option or chance

  • give

    broader and more everyday; afford is more formal in this sense

  • yield

    used especially when something naturally produces a result or benefit

Antonyms
  • deny

    means not allowing someone to have access or an opportunity

  • withhold

    focuses on keeping back something that could have been given

Grammar Patterns

afford somebody something

afford something

Usage Note

Often appears in more formal writing, with subjects such as a room, window, plan, job, or situation. Unlike senses 1 and 2, the subject is often a thing or place that gives someone a benefit, chance, view, or access.

Common Mistakes

The balcony afforded to see the sea.
The balcony afforded a view of the sea.
this sense takes a noun object such as 'a view' or 'access', not 'to see'.
The new app afforded me to work faster.
The new app gave me faster access to my files.
use this sense with a thing that is provided, not directly before another action.

Word family

  • affordable
    adjectiveB1
  • affordability
    nounC1
  • unaffordable
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Afford', 'pay for', 'manage', 'finance', and 'swing' can all relate to having enough money, but they are used differently. 'Afford' is the normal choice when your money, time, or other resources are enough: you can afford a flat or afford to travel. 'Pay for' only points to money that is actually spent. 'Manage' is more informal and often suggests some effort or difficulty before success. 'Finance' is more formal and is common when money is arranged or supplied for a business plan or large purchase. 'Swing' is informal American English and is mostly heard in negatives or questions. You can afford a holiday, pay for the tickets, manage a cheap trip, or finance a new office.

affordpay formanagefinanceswing

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Afford goes back to an Old English verb built from the same base as 'forth'. It first had ideas like helping something forward or carrying it out. Over time, that older meaning developed into the sense of making something available, and later into the modern idea of having enough money or other resources for it. The spelling shifted during Middle English and early modern English before reaching the modern form.