1
chiefly dialectal
: a usually leather pouch, wallet, or pack
also
: its contents
3
: a quantity (as of energy or water) involved in, available for, or assignable to a particular situation
the A-bomb … yields its budget of energy … in a fraction of a second—
Scientific American Reader
Scientific American Reader
also
: an account of gains and losses of such a quantity
the global carbon budget
4
finance
a
: a statement of the financial position of an administration (as of a nation) for a definite period of time based on estimates of expenditures during the period and proposals for financing them
b
: a plan for the coordination of resources and expenditures
develop a budget for her company
c
: the amount of money that is available for, required for, or assigned to a particular purpose
a weekly budget for a family of five
a budget of less than $3000
budgeted; budgeting; budgets
1
a
: to put or allow for in a statement or plan coordinating resources and expenditures : to put or allow for in a budget
budgeted $200 a month to pay back student loans
funds budgeted by the administration for the project
b
: to require to adhere to a budget
Budget yourself wisely.
2
a
: to allocate funds for in a budget
budget a new hospital
b
: to plan or provide for the use of in detail
budgeting manpower
Budget your time wisely.
: to put oneself on a budget
budgeting for a vacation
: suitable for someone who is following a plan for coordinating resources and expenditures : suitable for one on a budget (see budget entry 1) : inexpensive
Synonyms
Examples of budget in a Sentence
Noun
What's the average weekly budget for a family of five?
The film has a million-dollar budget.
He's been trying to live on a budget of less than $1,500 a month.
We'll have to work out a budget so we can buy a new car.
Verb
They budgeted millions of dollars to make the film.
The project is budgeted at more than $100,000.
He budgets $50 for entertainment each month.
If we budget carefully, we will be able to go on the trip.
I need to learn how to budget my time more wisely.
Adjective
a budget phone plan for people on fixed incomes
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024
As Chicago’s budget deadline looms, Mayor Brandon Johnson is pitching a new way to pay for several police positions while aldermen are urging the mayor to make further cuts in his spending plan.
—Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 2024
Brianna Crane, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
Compounding the problem is the reduction in marketing headcount and budget that many B2B teams have experienced over the past two years.
—Mark Emond, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2021
On Friday, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s disaster drama Notre-Dame on Fire opens opposite Japanese rock opera anime Inu-Oh, directed by Masaaki Yuasa, as well as several mid-budget Chinese releases.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for budget 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Their placeholder budget numbers for 2025 had called for a reduction in player payroll, which might still be achieved even if the club can win the bidding for Burnes — a market that is expected to exceed $200 million — as well as Adames.
—Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024
As Chicago’s budget deadline looms, Mayor Brandon Johnson is pitching a new way to pay for several police positions while aldermen are urging the mayor to make further cuts in his spending plan.
—Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
For a home valued at $350,000, for example, budget about $52,500.
—Brianna Crane, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
Compounding the problem is the reduction in marketing headcount and budget that many B2B teams have experienced over the past two years.
—Mark Emond, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
In terms of airlines, the top five carriers with the most delays were a mix of budget and non-budget airlines.
—Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2021
On Friday, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s disaster drama Notre-Dame on Fire opens opposite Japanese rock opera anime Inu-Oh, directed by Masaaki Yuasa, as well as several mid-budget Chinese releases.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for budget
Dictionary Entries Near budget
Cite this Entry
“Budget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/budget. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
budget
1 of 2 noun
bud·get
ˈbəj-ət 
2
a
: a statement of estimated income and expenses
b
: a plan for using money
c
: the amount of money available for some purpose
budget
2 of 2 verb1
: to put on or in a budget
budget $50 for entertainment
2
: to provide funds for in a budget
budget a new car
3
: to plan the use of
budget one's time
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bowgette "small leather pouch," derived from early French bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to bulge
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