as in dedicating
to keep or intend for a special purpose
the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car
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Recent Examples of earmarking
At a time when colleges and universities have spent considerable money on new athletic stadiums, student fitness centers, multi-level food courts, and million-dollar salaries for football and basketball coaches, earmarking money for high quality campus security continues to be problematic.
—
Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
The process of earmarking potential barrels begins years in advance.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
The process of earmarking potential barrels begins years in advance.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earmarking
Verb
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Person, who first rose to national prominence as a leading MTV VJ between 1995 and 2011, worked extensively as a presenter in Brazilian television before dedicating herself to directing.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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But let’s be honest, dedicating a room to play is also beneficial for the parents (anyone who’s experienced a barefoot encounter with a stray LEGO piece will understand).—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, the too-long-didn’t-read of what’s unfolding in the world of air travel is that major carriers are devoting lots of time and resources to their premium tier of travelers.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Firm research shows mom-and-pop investors are typically devoting only a small portion of their overall portfolios to these speculative plays, while keeping most of their money in more traditional investments.—
Yun Li,Kate Rooney,Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now, after a life-saving sonogram, Glanville has revealed that a ruptured pair of breast implants is the true culprit behind her condition.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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But that spirit of collaboration might be much harder to forge today, and a body tasked with saving Social Security before 2031 would face significant challenges that the commission of the early ‘80s did not.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earmarking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earmarking. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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