allocate
verb
al·lo·cate ˈa-lə-ˌkāt 
allocated; allocating
transitive verb
1
: to apportion for a specific purpose or to particular persons or things : distribute
allocate tasks among human and automated components
2
: to set apart or earmark : designate
allocate a section of the building for special research purposes
allocatable
ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tə-bəl
adjective allocation
ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən
noun allocator
ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- allot
- allow
- apportion
- assign
- distribute
- lot
- ration
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Money from the sale of the house was allocated to each of the children. We need to determine the best way to allocate our resources. Have enough funds been allocated to finance the project?
Recent Examples on the Web Looney and Duff did not directly address Republican proposals about how to allocate federal heating assistance funding. 
Stephen Singer, Hartford Courant, 1 Sep. 2022 Lisa Malloy, head of Intel’s government communications, said the company is awaiting guidance from the U.S. Commerce Department on how the Biden administration will allocate the funding. oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 Now, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is determining how to allocate roughly $501 million in federal disaster relief money throughout southern Alabama. Margaret Kates | Mkates@al.com, al, 11 Aug. 2022 Lake County officials hosted the second of three forums about how the county can allocate some of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding on Tuesday night. Gavin Good, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Ormseth said the study’s findings speak to the long-standing legacy of discriminatory housing practices intentionally created through policies, zoning ordinances, restrictive covenants, and overall decisions on where to allocate resources. San Francisco Chronicle, 29 June 2022 Measuring the financial contribution to the business to size, allocate and measure the return on investments. Stephen Diorio, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Mickley in Howard County wasn’t able to confirm poll locations or allocate equipment and election judges until his maps were finalized in May. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 17 July 2022 That's why the world's biggest asset managers now evaluate companies on their Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance priorities, and allocate their capital accordingly. Michelle Mcmurry-heath, Fortune, 2 May 2022 See More
Stephen Singer, Hartford Courant, 1 Sep. 2022 Lisa Malloy, head of Intel’s government communications, said the company is awaiting guidance from the U.S. Commerce Department on how the Biden administration will allocate the funding. oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 Now, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is determining how to allocate roughly $501 million in federal disaster relief money throughout southern Alabama. Margaret Kates | Mkates@al.com, al, 11 Aug. 2022 Lake County officials hosted the second of three forums about how the county can allocate some of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding on Tuesday night. Gavin Good, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Ormseth said the study’s findings speak to the long-standing legacy of discriminatory housing practices intentionally created through policies, zoning ordinances, restrictive covenants, and overall decisions on where to allocate resources. San Francisco Chronicle, 29 June 2022 Measuring the financial contribution to the business to size, allocate and measure the return on investments. Stephen Diorio, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Mickley in Howard County wasn’t able to confirm poll locations or allocate equipment and election judges until his maps were finalized in May. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 17 July 2022 That's why the world's biggest asset managers now evaluate companies on their Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance priorities, and allocate their capital accordingly. Michelle Mcmurry-heath, Fortune, 2 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin allocātus, past participle of allocāre "to place, stow, hire out, place on hire, allow, admit, credit," from Latin ad- ad- + locāre "to place, situate" — more at locate
First Known Use
1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing allocate
Kids Definition
allocate
verb
al·lo·cate
ˈa-lə-ˌkāt
allocated; allocating
1
: to divide and give out for a special reason or to particular people or things
Funds were allocated among the clubs.
2
: to set apart for a particular purpose
Part of the classroom was allocated for reading.
allocate
verb
1
as in to allot
to give as a share or portion not enough computers to allocate one to every student Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- allot
- assign
- distribute
- apportion
- ration
- lot
- allow
- divide
- give
- split
- measure
- portion
- dispense
- administer
- grant
- prorate
- reallocate
- deal
- part
- dole out
- reserve
- award
- hand out
- earmark
- contribute
- donate
- reassign
- meter
- reapportion
- redistribute
- admeasure
- parcel (out)
- accord
- share (out)
- mete (out)
- chip in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deny
- retain
- withhold
- deprive (of)
- keep
- begrudge
- appropriate
- stint
- confiscate
- arrogate
2
as in to distribute
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals allocated the housework in such a way that the older kids got more than the younger ones Synonyms & Similar Words
- distribute
- dispense
- provide
- divide
- administer
- assign
- apportion
- supply
- portion
- donate
- prorate
- dole out
- furnish
- hand out
- share
- allot
- split
- contribute
- disburse
- appropriate
- redistribute
- ration
- proportion
- issue
- lot
- reallocate
- parcel (out)
- deal (out)
- spread
- disseminate
- circulate
- mete (out)
- part
- bestow
- allow
- dish out
- disperse
- set
- reapportion
- scatter
- pledge
- admeasure
- divvy (up)
- measure (out)
- share (out)
- chip in
- dollop (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- withhold
- refuse
- deny
- misallocate
- reject
- disallow
- deprive (of)
- begrudge
- decline
- skimp
- stint
- pinch
- niggle (out)
3
as in to dedicate
to keep or intend for a special purpose sliced the strawberries after first allocating all the nicest ones for the top of the cake Synonyms & Similar Words
- dedicate
- devote
- save
- earmark
- reserve
- consecrate
- set apart
- set by
- use
- set aside
- entrust
- give up (to)
- employ
- bless
- commit
- sanctify
- apply
- consign
- bestow
- hallow
- intrust
- confide
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- neglect
- misuse
- misapply