reallocate

verb

re·​al·​lo·​cate (ˌ)rē-ˈa-lə-ˌkāt How to pronounce reallocate (audio)
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 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 The lawmakers urged Biden to implement reforms that include reallocating the spots from unused visas from the past two decades to the family and employment-based visa categories. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023 To fund the rest of the project, the City Council voted to reallocate $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act set aside for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and $200,000 from the ARPA Homelessness Regional Support Funds. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2023 Under the bill, funding will be reallocated from money that was meant for the IRS in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2023 On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council’s budget, finance and innovation Committee will meet to discuss the implementation process, and the ULA coalition will propose that $12 million be reallocated to short-term emergency assistance for renters. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023 If the city does not receive enough eligible applications, the council can later decide to reallocate the funding to another affordable housing program. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2023 The ministry has been reallocating limited amounts of fuel to hospitals to keep them open, OCHA said Saturday, and has asked people to donate their personal fuel supplies. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2023 Advertisement The ballot measure would also reallocate approximately $1 billion in existing funds to provide services, develop new programs and operate the facilities. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023 The state auditor’s report concludes by urging Mississippi state leaders to consider reallocating funding to public colleges and universities to address the state’s brain drain. Justin Gamble, CNN, 25 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reallocate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reallocate was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near reallocate

Cite this Entry

“Reallocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reallocate. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on reallocate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!