What does "ally" mean?
A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.
Ally
/ˈæl.aɪ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.
- Grammar: ally is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: friend, abettor, accessory, accomplice.
- Useful contrasts: the opposition, adversaries, adversary.
- Usage evidence: Let's ally ourselves to that group.
How to use "ally"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ally" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ally" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ally" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ally" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ally" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "friend" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ally", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.
"[N]o attempt is made to call in God to their reſcue, as if he vvere an idle unconcern'd ſpectator of humane affairs, or ſo inconſiderable an ally, as not to be vvorth the care of engaging him on their ſide."
- 2 One's relatives; kin, kindred, relations; also, relationship through descent or marriage; kinship. obsolete, plural, plural-only
"The ſpider: as of vſe in talke new entrid, / (Frendes axe of frends: the ſtate of their frends frendly,) / Axte how his coſins (thants father and mother) did. / His brothers ſiſters with all kyn and aly, / Thant ſaid thei did well."
- 3 Alternative spelling of alley (“a glass marble or taw”). alt-of, alternative, obsolete
- 4 a friendly nation wordnet
- 5 A person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.; A person who, or organization which, supports a demographic group subject to discrimination and/or misrepresentation but is not a member of the group; specifically (LGBTQ), a person who is not a member of the LGBT+ community but is supportive of it.
"I’m glad you want to be a better ally to the disabled."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 People, groups, states, etc., which are associated or united with each other for a common purpose; confederates; also, the state of being allied; alliance, confederation. obsolete, plural, plural-only
- 7 an associate who provides cooperation or assistance wordnet
- 8 A person, group, state, etc., which is associated or united by treaty with another for a common (especially military or political) purpose; a confederate.
"The two countries were allies in World War I."
- 9 Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature.
"the pretty Pansy then Ile tye / Like Stones some Chaine inchasing, / And next to them their neere Alye, / The purple Violet placing."
- 10 Something regarded as connected with or related to another thing by similarity in features or nature.; An organism which is related to another organism through common evolutionary origin; specifically, a species which is closely related to another species, usually within the same family.
"The order of Gruiformes includes cranes and their allies."
- 11 A person, group, concept, etc., which is associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary; a supporter. figuratively
"[S]cience, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally."
- 12 A kinsman or kinswoman; a relative. historical, obsolete
"This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie. / My very frend hath tane this mortall vvound / In my behalfe, […]"
Verb
- 1 To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. transitive
"Theſe three did loue each other dearely well, / And with ſo firme affection were allyde, / As if but one ſoule in them all did dvvell, / VVhich did her povvre into three parts diuyde; […]"
- 2 become an ally or associate, as by a treaty or marriage wordnet
- 3 Chiefly followed by to or with: to connect or form a relation to (someone or something) by similarity in features or nature. transitive
"Yes in good ſooth, the vice is of a great kindred; it is vvell allied, but it is impoſſible to extirpe it quite, Frier, till eating and drinking be put dovvne."
- 4 To join or unite (oneself or itself) against, with, etc., someone or something else. reflexive, transitive
"To be ſhort, hauing thus ingrafted them into the body of his [God's] Sonne, he ioyneth and allieth him ſelfe to them, he maketh him ſelfe one with them, maketh them his children and heyres, partakers of his immortalitie and glorie, and all this he worketh by the inward vertue of his holy Ghost, […]"
- 5 Chiefly followed by with: to enter into an alliance or unite for a common aim. intransitive
"[A]ftervvards he [Constantine the Great] allied vvith Licinius, and gave him his Siſter in marriage, and acknovvledged him his Colleague in the Empire."
Proper Noun
- 1 A diminutive of the female given names Alice, Alison, Alexandra, or other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages or Ancient Greek.
"Where’s my Girle? What Ally? Ally? / Enter Alice."
- 2 A diminutive of the male given names Alfred, Albert, Alan, Alexander, or other names beginning with Al-[[]], from the Germanic languages, the Celtic languages, or Ancient Greek.
"Ally Love"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Let's ally ourselves to that group."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ally"?
Common synonyms include: friend, abettor, accessory, accomplice, act in concert, act together.
How do you use "ally" in a sentence?
Let's ally ourselves to that group.
How do you pronounce "ally"?
Pronounced /ˈæl.aɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English allien, alien (“to form an alliance, associate, join; to become an ally; to introduce (someone) as an ally; to marry; to become related (to someone); to attack, engage in combat; to combine; (cooking) to combine ingredients, especially to bind them together”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier [and other forms], and Old French alier (“to join together, unite; to alloy (metals); (cooking) to combine ingredients”) (modern French allier), from Latin alligāre, the present active infinitive of alligō, adligō (“to bind around, to, or up (something), bandage, fasten, fetter, tie; to hold fast; to detain, hinder”), from al-, ad- (intensifying prefix) + ligō (“to bind, tie; to bandage, wrap around; to unite”) (from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to bind, tie”)). Doublet of allay, alligate, alloy, and ligament.
Etymology 2
From Middle English allie, alie [and other forms], probably partly: * from allien (verb): see etymology 1; and * from Anglo-Norman allié, alié, alyé, allyé, Middle French allié, alié, allyé (“associate, supporter; friend; relative; person, state, etc., associated or united with another by alliance or treaty”), and Old French alliiet (“military or political ally”) (modern French allié), a noun use of the past participle of Anglo-Norman alier, allier, Middle French alier, allier, and Old French alier (verb): see etymology 1.
Etymology 3
See alley.
Etymology 4
Diminutives + -y.