allocate
verb
al·lo·cate
ˈa-lə-ˌkāt 
allocated; allocating
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
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
Compounding these challenges, Monetary Award Program grants that support low-income students have already been fully allocated for the next school year.
—
Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Considering these economic anxieties, allocating nearly one-third of the state budget to defense might seem like insanity.
—Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026
But there actually was a California agency allocated $30 million in recent years to get hearing aids, which cost around $6,000, to babies in the state who need them but whose families can’t afford them.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Those efforts will enable more accurate estimates of the reliability of existing or planned water supplies and inform how much water is available to allocate for various uses moving forward.
—Michelle Hummel, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for allocate
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Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Considering these economic anxieties, allocating nearly one-third of the state budget to defense might seem like insanity.
—Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026
But there actually was a California agency allocated $30 million in recent years to get hearing aids, which cost around $6,000, to babies in the state who need them but whose families can’t afford them.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Those efforts will enable more accurate estimates of the reliability of existing or planned water supplies and inform how much water is available to allocate for various uses moving forward.
—Michelle Hummel, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for allocate
Cite this Entry
“Allocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allocate. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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