ally
ally — noun
1. a nation that has formally promised to fight alongside or back up another nation
a nation that has formally promised to fight alongside or back up another nation, most often in wartime or against a shared enemy.
Britain and France were close allies during the Second World War.
ally + during [conflict]
Japan signed a treaty making it a key ally of the United States.
ally of [country]
President Biden flew to Berlin to reassure nervous European allies after the missile strike.
Canada has been a loyal ally to Britain in two world wars.
Without strong allies like Germany, Estonia could not defend its long eastern border.
- partner
broader; covers economic and trade ties, not only military
- confederate
formal/historical; suggests joining for a specific cause
文法句型
ally of [country]
ally in [war/conflict]
用法筆記
Subject is a country, government, or military bloc; collocates with treaty, war, alliance, NATO. Distinguish from sense 2 (any individual supporter) by checking whether the supporter is a sovereign state.
常見錯誤
2. a person, group, or organisation that personally stands beside you in a specific
a person, group, or organisation that personally stands beside you in a specific dispute or campaign — for example, a colleague who defends your idea in a meeting, or a friend who takes your side in a family argument.
Nia found an unexpected ally in her grandmother during the family argument.
find an ally in [person]
The senator counted the union leaders among her closest political allies.
political allies (collocation)
Beatriz needed a strong ally at work to push the new safety rules through.
Mrs. Park found a powerful ally in the city councillor who blocked the factory permit.
The young lawyer had few allies inside the company when she reported the fraud.
文法句型
ally in [struggle/effort]
find an ally in [person]
用法筆記
Often appears with 'in' to name the cause or struggle (an ally in this fight). Frequently used in plural for a group of supporters around a leader. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the supporter is a person or organisation rather than a country.
常見錯誤
3. someone outside a particular community who actively backs its members — for exam
someone outside a particular community who actively backs its members — for example, a straight person speaking up for LGBTQ rights — so that the group can win equal treatment and respect.
Many white teachers have become vocal allies of their Black students this year.
ally of [marginalised group]
Ilya wears a rainbow pin to show he is an ally to LGBTQ classmates.
ally to [group]
Olu proved a true ally when she challenged her boss's racist joke at the staff meeting.
The company trained its managers to act as allies for women returning from maternity leave.
文法句型
ally to [group]
be an ally for [cause]
用法筆記
Common in social justice and workplace inclusion contexts. The ally is by definition outside the group they support — a Black person is not 'an ally' to Black colleagues but a member of the group. Often paired with verbs like 'be', 'become', 'show up as'.
常見錯誤
ally — verb
1. to deliberately link yourself or your group to another, so that you act together
to deliberately link yourself or your group to another, so that you act together — usually by signing an agreement, taking a public side, or marrying into a family.
The young queen allied herself with the powerful Spanish royal family through marriage.
ally yourself with [group]
Several smaller parties allied themselves to the Greens before the election.
reflexive: ally yourself to [cause]
By signing the pact, the prime minister allied his country with three Asian neighbours.
Critics warned the senator not to ally herself too closely with the oil industry.
- oppose
take the other side
- distance (yourself)
publicly break the link
文法句型
ally yourself with [person/group]
ally yourself to [cause]
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive in modern use ('ally yourself with…'). The non-reflexive transitive form ('ally his country with…') is mostly historical or formal political writing. Distinguish from sense 2 by checking for a direct object (yourself / a country / a group).
常見錯誤
2. (of countries, parties, or groups) to come together as partners, usually by sign
(of countries, parties, or groups) to come together as partners, usually by signing a treaty or making a public deal to support each other.
Britain and France allied against Germany at the start of the war.
ally against [enemy]
Several small island nations allied with Australia to fight climate change.
ally with [partner]
Labour and the Greens allied with student unions to block the new tuition law.
The Kurdish militias allied with American forces against ISIS in northern Syria.
- unite
stronger; suggests becoming one body, not just cooperating
- join forces
more informal; everyday equivalent in journalism
文法句型
ally with [country/group]
ally against [enemy]
用法筆記
Subject is normally a country, party, or organised group rather than a single person. Frequently passive in news reporting ('be allied with'). Distinguish from sense 1 by the absence of a reflexive object — here the subject acts together with the partner directly.