allocate

1 of 2

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

allocator

2 of 2

noun

al·​lo·​ca·​tor ˈa-lə-ˌkātər 

plural -s

: one that allocates

Synonyms of allocate

Verb

• allot
• assign
• distribute

Examples of allocate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The government allocated $10 million to develop the site into a tourist attraction. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Contracts define participation, allocate risk and establish accountability. — Bystephen Pitt-Walker, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Like a referee being selected to officiate the World Cup final, being given the honor of the Tour de France, with other colleagues allocated different events, is the honor of a career. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Last year, Texas allocated $50 million in state funding for ibogaine clinical trials. — Bob Woods, CNBC, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

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