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

Christmas and New Year are celebrated with great enthusiasm here, with significant budgets allocated to transform December into a joyous festival. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

The actual influence of a border czar depends significantly on the administration's priorities, the scope of their mandate, and the resources allocated to their initiatives. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

In fiscal year 2023, the school's expenditures totaled $2.46 million, with $248,000 allocated for facility operations and maintenance. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024

Proposition 35 effectively requires some of the money to be allocated to providers that serve Medi-Cal patients. —Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

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