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

In simple terms, these are target-date funds that allocate some of your money toward a future annuity purchase. —Sarah O'Brien, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025

There, commissioners sat in front of a screen depicting a graph showing revenues for a nonprofit, called Access Sacramento, which largely draws money allocated by the cable commission. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025

In 2024, Kentucky lawmakers considered allocating funds to support research on ibogaine, but backed off after pushback from doctors. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025

Rodriguez’s staff used the A3 Foundation as a financial clearinghouse for Miami-Dade funds allocated to the rodeo and agricultural event, with the A3 Foundation submitting CountryFest invoices to the commissioner’s office and his staff processing payments through the county’s purchasing system. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 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

Rhymes for allocate

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

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