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

Experts on foreign assistance argue that DEI spending at the agency is infinitesimal, with USAID’s $40 billion budget representing less than 1% of total federal spending and the proportion of funds allocated to DEI causes being significantly less. —A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2025

Gabriele was allocated chassis No. 002 C, while his brother got chassis No. 004 C. Fast forward 77 years and Soave Besana’s 166 Spyder Corsa, now the most-original early Ferrari in the world and a car never publicly offered for sale before, is about to cross the auction block. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2025

That’s not an overwhelming financial impetus, but a team in the Giants’ position can allocate that money better. —Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

The House resolution would allocate $4.5 trillion to extend the president’s 2017 tax cuts. —Brett Rowland | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Feb. 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