Meaning & use
ally
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Meanings
nouncountable
A country or group that has agreed to help and support another, especially in war.
Grammar: Countable: a close ally, our allies.
Patterns
- an ally of someone
- allies against someone
Britain was a close ally of the United States.
The two nations became allies against the invader.
Allies sent supplies to the besieged city.
nouncountable
A person who supports and helps you in a struggle or a cause.
Grammar: Also used for a person who supports a group they are not part of.
Patterns
- an ally in something
- an ally of someone
She found an ally in her manager when she asked for a change.
He is a strong ally of the new policy.
Teachers can be allies for students facing bullying.
verbtransitive or intransitiveformal
To join with another person or group for a shared aim.
Grammar: Usually reflexive or with with: ally yourself with someone.
Patterns
- ally with someone
- ally yourself with someone
- be allied to someone
The small parties allied with each other to win the vote.
He allied himself with the reformers.
The company allied with a local firm to enter the market.
Word forms
| plural | allies |
|---|---|
| third person singular | allies |
| past tense | allied |
| past participle | allied |
| -ing form | allying |
Common combinations
- a close ally
- The senator is a close ally of the president.
- ally yourself with
- Don't ally yourself with people you don't trust.
- a natural ally
- Environmental groups are natural allies of local farmers.
- allied forces
- Allied forces landed on the coast.
- an unlikely ally
- The rival turned out to be an unlikely ally.
Synonyms and how they differ
- friend
- Friend is personal and warm, whereas ally suggests a shared goal or common enemy.
- partner
- Partner suggests working together formally, while ally stresses mutual support against opposition.
- supporter
- Supporter can be passive, while an ally usually acts alongside you.
- confederate
- Confederate carries a hint of secret or shady cooperation.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ally or alley? ally or alloy?
ally vs alley
An alley is a narrow lane between buildings, while an ally is a supporter.
ally vs alloy
An alloy is a metal made from a mix of metals.
Practice
During the war, the two nations were ____ and shared military secrets.
Choose one answer.
Allies are countries that support each other, so sharing secrets fits. Rivals compete, strangers do not know one another, and neighbors only live nearby.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.