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afford to
/əˈfɔːd tuː/◆phrasal verb
have enough money to buy or do something
I can't afford to buy a new car right now.
I don't have enough money to buy a new car at the moment.
informal
To have sufficient financial resources to purchase or do something without causing financial hardship.
She can afford to travel abroad every year.
She has enough money to travel abroad annually.
They can't afford to live in the city anymore.
They no longer have enough money to maintain their city lifestyle.
This phrase is commonly used to discuss financial capability in everyday contexts.
Collocations
afford to buyhave enough money to purchase somethingafford to dohave enough money to engage in an activity
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Financial Context
This phrase is most commonly used in financial contexts to discuss purchasing power or financial capability.
Gold Rule
Correct Usage
Always use 'to' after 'afford' when referring to an action or activity.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'afforden,' meaning to provide or supply, combined with the infinitive 'to' to indicate capability.
Usage Notes
This phrase is often used to discuss financial limitations or capabilities in personal or professional contexts. It can also be used metaphorically to describe non-financial resources, such as time or energy.
Word Breakdown
afford
to have enough money or resources
rootto
infinitive marker indicating capability
infinitiveEnglish Dictionary