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Afford Definition & Meaning

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

"Afford" in song lyrics

See how afford is used in real songs:

  • "Always wantin' things we can't afford"
    2 Live Crew — I Can't Go for That
  • "The poor can't afford"
    Aceyalone — The Hurt
  • "Drives a better car than you can ever afford"
    Alexipharmic — Kings

Usage tips for "afford"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "afford" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for afford to find words that pair well.

Use "afford" in a verse

Now that you know what "afford" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Frequently asked questions

What does afford mean?
be able to spare or give up; "I can't afford to spend two hours with this person" be the cause or source of; "He gave me a lot of trouble"; "Our meeting afforded much interesting information" have the financial means to do something or buy something; "We can't afford to send our children to college"; "Can you afford this car?" afford access to; "the door opens to the patio"; "The French doors give onto a terrace"
What part of speech is afford?
Afford is a verb.
How many definitions does afford have?
Afford has 4 definitions across 1 part of speech (verb).

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