Afford

Pronunciation: /əˈfɔrd/

Definitions of afford

verb to have enough money or resources to be able to pay for something

Example Sentences

A1 I can't afford to buy a new car.

A2 She couldn't afford to go on vacation this year.

B1 We need to budget carefully to afford our dream home.

B2 With their combined income, they can afford a luxurious lifestyle.

C1 Having saved for years, they could finally afford to retire early.

C2 Despite the high cost, she could afford to send her children to the best schools.

Examples of afford in a Sentence

formal Many families struggle to afford basic necessities such as food and shelter.

informal I can't afford to go on vacation this year, I need to save money.

slang I wish I could afford those new sneakers, they're so expensive!

figurative He couldn't afford to lose another game if he wanted to make it to the playoffs.

Grammatical Forms of afford

• past tense: afforded
• plural: affords
• comparative: more affordable
• superlative: most affordable
• present tense: afford
• future tense: will afford
• perfect tense: have afforded
• continuous tense: is affording
• singular: affords
• positive degree: affordable
• infinitive: to afford
• gerund: affording
• participle: affording

Origin and Evolution of afford

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'afford' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old English word 'gefeordian' meaning to supply or provide.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'afford' has evolved to not only mean providing or supplying, but also to denote the ability to have enough money or resources to purchase or do something.