Meaning & use

ally

noun·Academic

A person, group, or country that cooperates with another for a common purpose, especially against a shared opponent.

See it in a sentence

The two nations became close allies after signing the trade agreement.

She found an unexpected ally in her coworker, who backed her proposal in the meeting.

A note on using this word

Ally can also be a verb, 'to ally with,' meaning to join forces with someone for mutual benefit.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To join forces or cooperate with another person, group, or country for a shared purpose.

Several small nations allied with one another to negotiate better trade terms.

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