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 of allocate

• allot
• assign
• distribute

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

Most focus heavily on grants and donations, yet allocate little to promotions. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

On Monday, DeSantis vetoed $15 million allocated for security grants for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Miami, the total amount of funding for Catholic school security previously approved by the Florida Legislature earlier this month. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

Across all facilities in Maryland that are under the Department of Public Safety, there has been about a 27% decrease in correctional officer positions allocated during the same time period. — Theodore Rose, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026

Wellness is a term that Has become increasingly more ambiguous as more companies allocate the term toward product positioning. — Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026

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

Rhymes for allocate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• amputate
• angulate
• annotate

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