allocate

verb

al·​lo·​cate ˈa-lə-ˌkāt 

allocated; allocating

transitive verb

1

: to apportion for a specific purpose or to particular persons or things : distribute

allocate tasks among human and automated components

2

: to set apart or earmark : designate

allocate a section of the building for special research purposes

allocatable

ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tə-bəl 

adjective

allocation

ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

allocator

ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• allot
• allow
• apportion
• assign
• distribute
• lot
• ration

Examples of allocate in a Sentence

Money from the sale of the house was allocated to each of the children.

We need to determine the best way to allocate our resources.

Have enough funds been allocated to finance the project?

Recent Examples on the Web

Boston Consulting Group found that leading companies are allocating a large portion of their AI investments to reshaping core functions and inventing new offerings. —Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

For comparison, gold accounted for only 19% of total reserves, with 15% allocated in euros and 2% in Chinese renminbi. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 17 June 2025

More Burston/Getty Now, by potentially punting on a revival toward playoff contention, the Red Sox will be left to allocate the roughly $250 million Devers is still owed toward future additions. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

No reservations, so allocate more time during peak periods, especially if traveling with a car, and look for updates on the BC Ferries website. —The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin allocātus, past participle of allocāre "to place, stow, hire out, place on hire, allow, admit, credit," from Latin ad- ad- + locāre "to place, situate" — more at locate

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing allocate

• sub-allocate

Rhymes for allocate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

allocate

verb

al·​lo·​cate ˈal-ə-ˌkāt 

allocated; allocating

1

: to divide and distribute for a special reason or to particular persons or things

allocate funds among charities

2

: to set apart for a particular purpose

allocate materials for a project

allocation

ˌal-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun