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

The remaining funds are returned to USDA to be reallocated for fiscal year 2026. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced earlier this month the city would reallocate funds to keep serving those in Jefferson County through the end of the year, but more work is needed. —Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025

Though no plant jobs were lost, just reallocated, the move still came as a blow, according to UAW Local 14 President Tony Totty. —Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 10 Oct. 2025

As tax dollars are reallocated from public school districts and families abandon those schools to learn at home or in private settings, the new department officials see little need for oversight. —Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above