ally

A person or group that works with you and supports your goals.

• She is my closest ally.
• The two parties became allies during the election.
• Can we count on our allies for support?

How to use it: ally of someone (The senator is an ally of the president.)

Similar words: supporter, partner

Opposites: enemy, opponent

Common phrases: close ally, political ally, ally of someone

A person, group, or country that agrees to help and support another, especially in politics or war.

• We need a strong ally.
• The two countries became allies during the war.
• She found an ally in a colleague who supported her proposal.

How to use it: an ally of someone/something (The country is a close ally of its northern neighbour.)

Similar words: partner, supporter

Opposites: enemy, opponent

Common phrases: close ally, political ally, ally of someone, trusted ally

Someone who supports the rights of a group facing unfair treatment, without belonging to that group.

• You can be an ally by listening.
• Several straight allies joined the march for gay rights.
• She spoke about how allies can challenge discrimination at work.

How to use it: ally to someone (He wants to be an ally to people facing racism.)

Similar words: supporter, advocate

Common phrases: ally to someone, lgbtq ally, supportive ally

Something that helps you succeed or deal with a problem.

• A good map is your ally.
• Sleep can be a powerful ally against stress.
• These simple tools became our greatest allies during the repairs.

How to use it: ally in something (Regular exercise is an ally in the fight against stress.)

Similar words: aid, asset

Common phrases: valuable ally, powerful ally, ally against something

An animal or plant related to another because they developed from the same ancient kind.

• This plant is a close ally of the rose.
• The study compares cranes and their allies.
• Scientists identified several allies within the same family of insects.

Similar words: relative

Common phrases: close ally, evolutionary ally

To join with a person or group so that you can support each other.

• The two countries allied against a common enemy.
• She allied herself with workers demanding fair pay.
• Will the smaller parties ally with the government?

How to use it: ally oneself with someone (The small party allied itself with the opposition.); ally with someone against someone (They allied with their neighbours against the invading army.)

Similar words: unite, join forces, team up

Common phrases: ally with someone, ally yourself with someone, ally against someone

To connect things because they have similar features or are closely related.

• These birds are closely allied to finches.
• The two traditions are allied by their shared history.
• The study allies this species with a different family of plants.

How to use it: be allied to/with something (This plant is closely allied to the mint family.)

Similar words: relate, connect, associate

Common phrases: ally something with something, ally something to something