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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Afford: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：have enough money for (afford)

afford 🔊

/əˈfɔːrd/

To have enough money to pay for something.

Afford meaning: person checking price tag with wallet in hand

have enough money for 🔊

➕

/hæv ɪˈnʌf ˈmʌni fɔːr/

To have sufficient financial resources to purchase something.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'geforðian' (to further), from 'forð' (forward). Prefix 'af-' variant of 'ge-'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'A Ford' car. To afford it means you have enough money to buy it.

📖 Example

After saving for months, I finally afford the new laptop I've been wanting. 🔊 After saving for months, I finally afford the new laptop I've been wanting.

🔗 Collocations

afford to buy – be able to purchase

afford the cost – be able to pay the price

can afford it – have enough money for it

🔄 Synonyms

purchase (v.) – to buy something using money

pay for (v.) – to give money in exchange for something

finance (v.) – to provide money to pay for something

🚫 Antonyms

cannot afford (phrase) – lacking enough money to pay

be unable to buy (phrase) – not having the financial means to purchase

lack funds (phrase) – not have enough money available

🌱 Derivatives

affordable (adj.) – reasonably priced; within one's financial means

affordability (n.) – the quality of being affordable

unaffordable (adj.) – too expensive; not within one's financial means

📖 Cultural Story

Historically, 'afford' derived from Old English 'geforðian' meaning 'to further' or 'to accomplish'. Its sense evolved from 'to provide' to 'to have the means to pay', reflecting the idea of being able to move forward financially.

Meaning 2：can risk (afford)

afford 🔊

/əˈfɔːrd/

To be able to do something without having a bad result; to be able to risk or spare something.

Afford risk: student closing laptop to study for exams

can risk 🔊

➕

/kæn rɪsk/

To be able to do something without suffering serious negative consequences; to have the capacity to accept a loss or problem.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We can't afford to make any mistakes on this important project. 🔊 We can't afford to make any mistakes on this important project.

🔗 Collocations

can't afford to fail – cannot tolerate failure

can't afford the risk – cannot bear the potential danger

can't afford to lose – cannot accept loss

🔄 Synonyms

risk (v.) – to take a chance that could lead to harm or loss

hazard (v.) – to expose to danger or risk

dare (v.) – to have the courage or audacity to do something

🚫 Antonyms

be safe from (phrase) – to be free from danger or risk

be certain (phrase) – to be sure about an outcome, avoiding risk

avoid risk (phrase) – to stay away from situations that might cause harm