afford
uh-FAWD
Afford (verb) means to have enough money, time, or resources for something. Example: “They finally saved enough to afford a house deposit.”
verb
1
To have enough money, time, or resources for something.
"They finally saved enough to afford a house deposit."
"I can’t afford to take another day off work this month."
"Many young people cannot afford to rent a flat in the city centre."
2
To be able to do something without unacceptable risk or consequence.
"We can’t afford to make another mistake this close to the deadline."
"A small business cannot afford to ignore customer complaints for long."
"We can't afford to lose any more time if we want to catch the train."
How to use afford
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo have the money, time, or safety margin needed to do something.
Common pairings
afford to buy
can’t afford
afford the time
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- affords
- Past tense
- afforded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They finally saved enough to _____ a house deposit.
Etymology
From Old English geforthian, "to further or accomplish" — ultimately related to the word "forth."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for afford
See all rhymes for afford →Frequently asked questions
What does “afford” mean?
The word “afford” means to have enough money, time, or resources for something. In plain terms, to have the money, time, or safety margin needed to do something.
How do you pronounce “afford”?
“Afford” is pronounced uh-FAWD (/əˈfoɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “afford” in a sentence?
Here is “afford” used in a sentence: “They finally saved enough to afford a house deposit.”
What part of speech is “afford”?
“Afford” is a verb.
Where does the word “afford” come from?
The word “afford” comes from Old English. From Old English geforthian, "to further or accomplish" — ultimately related to the word "forth.".
Is “afford” a common word?
“Afford” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “afford” have?
“Afford” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to have enough money, time, or resources for something.
What does it mean to afford something?
To afford something is to have enough money, time, or resources to manage it without undue strain. It usually appears with 'can,' 'could,' or 'cannot,' as in 'we can afford a holiday this year.' It can also stretch beyond money, as in 'I can't afford to lose any more time.'
What is the difference between afford and buy?
'Buy' means to actually purchase something. 'Afford' means to have the means to buy or do it, whether or not you go ahead. You can afford a car without buying one, and you cannot sensibly buy what you cannot afford. Afford is about capacity, while buy is about the action.
Can 'afford' mean something other than money?
Yes. Besides money, it covers any resource you can spare, such as time, energy, or risk, as in 'she couldn't afford the delay.' More formally, it can mean to provide or give, as in 'the balcony affords a fine view.' Context makes clear which sense is meant.
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