reallocate

verb

re·​al·​lo·​cate (ˌ)rē-ˈa-lə-ˌkāt 

reallocated; reallocating; reallocates

transitive verb

: to allocate (something) again: such as

a

: to apportion or distribute (something) in a new or different way

The best way to start an overhaul of the nation's statistical system would be to reallocate funds from the Agriculture Department to other agencies.

—Joseph Spiers

b

: to earmark or designate (something) for a new or different purpose

In recent years, many local low-income housing units … have been demolished or reallocated to serve wealthier residents.

—Hannah Russell

reallocation

(ˌ)rē-ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

plural reallocations

… the reallocation of local property taxes from library budgets to school districts …

—Ruth Perry

The reallocation for overflow parking could take away as many as 75 spots from resident students during its allotted hours …

—Emma Reith

Examples of reallocate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The city must reallocate unspent funds to accelerate new construction and preserve existing units. —Pascale Leone, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025

However, the president does have some flexibility to pause or reallocate aid temporarily for policy reasons, such as national security concerns. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

City staff will recommend reallocating nearly $27 million from last year’s budget to the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year, which begins July 1. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025

Progressive politicians pushed in 2020 for slashing at least $1 billion from the NYPD’s budget in favor of reallocating more resources for social services, after the city and the nation was rocked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above