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

For example, shifting the Fed’s portfolio toward short-term Treasury bills and away from long-term bonds or mortgage-back securities could reduce market price distortion and limit the government’s role in allocating capital across sectors. — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

The same concept can also be applied to a business, an individual, or any producer that must decide how to allocate limited resources. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026

Shah says investors allocating funds based on that principle stand to lose a lot of money. — Alastair Marsh, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

The state’s Project Homekey has allocated nearly a billion dollars toward supportive housing, creating 2,749 affordable homes for folks with behavioral health challenges at risk of homelessness — issues often tied up in a ball with addiction. — Los Angeles Times, 31 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