allocate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to assign or allot for a particular purpose
-
a less common word for locate
Related Words
See assign.
Other Word Forms
- allocatable adjective
- allocator noun
- deallocate verb (used with object)
- reallocate verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of allocate
First recorded in 1630–40; from Medieval Latin allocātus (past participle of allocāre ), equivalent to al- al- + loc(us) “place” + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To allocate is to set aside a certain amount of money for an expense. You usually hear about the government allocating funds for education or the military, but you may personally allocate some of your allowance to buying comic books. Aside from money, a common thing to allocate is time: "The old woman in the shoe had so many children she could only allocate 2.7 minutes per day to talk to each one individually." Resources are also often allocated. Teachers, for example, are continuously allocating their year's supply of resources so they don't run out of glue sticks and paper before the end of the school year.
Vocabulary lists containing allocate
Grade 9, List 6
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Nothing But the Truth
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It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is understood that ministers will discuss a plan from Democratic Unionist Party Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, which aims to allocate £17m in home heating oil support for households in Northern Ireland.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
What you can control, indisputably, is how you allocate capital.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
Different methodologies and outcomes for the Gauge and Big Data + Panel frustrate TV operators and confuse marketers looking to allocate spending as next month’s upfront ad sales events approach, according to Marshall.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
The program opens up for applications this week and could allocate up to $12,500 for households of 1-2 people and up to $19,000 for households with five or more members.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The financial markets paid a lot of people extremely well for narrow expertise and a few people, poorly, for the big, global views you needed to have if you were to allocate capital across markets.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
