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

The ability to identify potentially dangerous individuals swiftly allows border agencies to allocate resources more effectively, preventing human errors and ensuring the integrity of the immigration process. —Kevin Cohen, New York Daily News, 31 Dec. 2024

As of 2023, more than 30% of its total spending was allocated to these businesses, up from 3% in 2019. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

Curtis would allocate 16% to TIPS and about 5% to a gold ETF as yet another inflation edge. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024

Another carrier has allocated the brokerage either one renters or homeowners policy a month. —Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 27 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