reallocate

verb

re·​al·​lo·​cate (ˌ)rē-ˈa-lə-ˌkāt 

reallocated; reallocating; reallocates

transitive verb

: to allocate (something) again: such as

a

: to apportion or distribute (something) in a new or different way

The best way to start an overhaul of the nation's statistical system would be to reallocate funds from the Agriculture Department to other agencies.

—Joseph Spiers

b

: to earmark or designate (something) for a new or different purpose

In recent years, many local low-income housing units … have been demolished or reallocated to serve wealthier residents.

—Hannah Russell

reallocation

(ˌ)rē-ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

plural reallocations

… the reallocation of local property taxes from library budgets to school districts …

—Ruth Perry

The reallocation for overflow parking could take away as many as 75 spots from resident students during its allotted hours …

—Emma Reith

Examples of reallocate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In one of several references to a potential future lawsuit, the letter cites an internal county memo from the summer of 2025 stating that withholding or reallocating money already promised to taxing districts would likely lead to legal action. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

The Kane County Board is reallocating some more COVID-19 relief funds to things like HVAC improvement projects within the county, as the deadline to spend these funds nears. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

In light of these fiscal constraints, the Archdiocese exercised its independent authority to reallocate its remaining funds. —Megan De Mar, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

The goal is to force the Russian military to reallocate troops to different areas to respond to attacks, just as the Russians have tried to pull Ukrainian defenses in different directions. —Tim Lister, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above