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

Konyndyk argued that mortality data won’t reflect many adverse outcomes of the aid cuts, because humanitarians and aid recipients are frantically reallocating funds; for example, taking money away from education to put it towards food. —Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026

Because it is included in the bill, if passed it cannot be reallocated to the project. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026

With Tuesday’s resolution, the city will reallocate $800,000 from the Blakey Lane extension to the Riverbank Stabilization project. —Aaron Sullivan, Austin American Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026

Several senior executives have been reallocated from The Line to focus on these other projects, the people said. —Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above