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

Critics have previously highlighted that many opioid settlements do not allocate funds specifically for these purposes, making this aspect of the Purdue settlement particularly noteworthy. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Jan. 2025

Employers should plan for these groups and allocate benefits accordingly. —Jack Hooper, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Ten noms were allocated for A24’s Venice-winning VistaVision epic The Brutalist (including a co-field-leading three for acting) and Universal’s blockbuster musical Wicked (though 1932’s Grand Hotel is the only film that ever won best picture without directing or screenplay noms). —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025

Moreover, Congress can and should address the problem by passing comprehensive immigration reform and allocating sufficient resources to handle the backlog of people seeking to immigrate through lawful means. —Elizabeth Goitein, TIME, 23 Jan. 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

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