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

That’s prompted chipmakers to allocate more of their production to these higher-margin orders, leaving fewer memory chips available for things like consumer devices and cars. —Nasteho Said, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026

The agreement caps Live Nation’s long-term exclusivity contracts, historically used to lock venues into its system, at four years, and venues will be permitted to allocate a portion of their ticket inventory to rival platforms, the Politico report added. —Reuters wire Service, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

While that amount pales in comparison to the $511 million allocated for transportation infrastructure — or even the $60 million for a new animal shelter — $10 million is still $10 million. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026

But studies have shown that diverse school boards are more likely to allocate money in ways that invest in racially diverse students. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 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
• 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