afforded

Afforded is the past tense and past participle of the verb afford. The core sense of afford is to provide, supply, or give someone the means or opportunity to obtain or do something. In a financial sense, it means to have enough money to pay for something; more broadly, it can mean to permit or yield a certain possibility or benefit.

Etymology and background: The term derives from older English forms that conveyed the idea of providing or furnishing something. Over time, the usage broadened to include both the sense of financial capacity and the sense of enabling or granting an opportunity. The past tense and participle form, afforded, is used to describe what was provided or what became possible in the past or in a completed, passive sense.

Usage and examples: Afforded is transitive and is often used with a direct object that is something provided or an opportunity created. For example, “The program afforded participants new skills,” or “The view from the balcony afforded a spectacular panorama.” In a passive construction, “The opportunity was afforded to us by the sponsor.” In everyday finance, one might say, “I can’t afford to buy a new car.”

Related language: Afford is commonly followed by an infinitive (afford to do something). Related terms include provide, offer, grant, and yield. Antonyms arise when there is a lack of means or permission, such as unable to afford or lack of funds.