General Antonyms:
* Allows: This is a broad antonym that simply means to permit something.
* Permits: Similar to "allows," this implies a formal or official permission.
* Encourages: This suggests promoting or supporting something, the opposite of prohibiting it.
More Specific Antonyms:
* Promotes: If "bans" refers to restricting something, "promotes" means to encourage or support it.
* Legalizes: If "bans" refers to making something illegal, "legalizes" means to make it legal.
* Approves: If "bans" refers to disapproving something, "approves" means to agree with it.
Example:
* Ban: The city council banned smoking in public places.
* Antonym: The city council encourages people to smoke in designated areas.
It's crucial to consider the specific context of the word "bans" to determine the most appropriate antonym.