Definition Definition

Afford - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'Afford' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Afford [ v. t.]
- To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue; as, grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish.
- To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as, a good life affords consolation in old age.
- To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as, A affords his goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity.
- To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough.

Meaning of 'Afford' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . afford [ v]
Meaning (1):
- have the financial means to do something or buy something
Example in sentence:
  • Can you afford this car?;
  • We can't afford to send our children to college
Meaning (2):
- be the cause or source of
Example in sentence:
  • He gave me a lot of trouble;
  • Our meeting afforded much interesting information
Meaning (3):
- be able to spare or give up
Example in sentence:
  • I can't afford to spend two hours with this person
Meaning (4):
- afford access to
Example in sentence:
  • the door opens to the patio;
  • The French doors give onto a terrace