allocate

[al-uh-keyt]

verb (used with object)

allocated, allocating 

1. to set apart for a particular purpose; assign or allot.

   to allocate funds for new projects.

allocate

/ ˈæləˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to assign or allot for a particular purpose

2. a less common word for locate

Other Word Forms

• allocatable adjective
• allocator noun
• deallocate verb (used with object)
• reallocate verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of allocate¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Medieval Latin allocātus (past participle of allocāre ), equivalent to al- al- + loc(us) “place” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of allocate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin allocāre, from Latin locāre to place, from locus a place

Synonym Study

See assign.

Example Sentences

In most refugee settlements, the government has run out of land to allocate to migrants for crop cultivation, and in at least one, refugees have come to blows over the plots that are available.

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Normally, five regional internet registries spread around the world allocate IP addresses to service providers, cloud companies and others that can demonstrate that they or their clients need them to operate.

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In return for permission to build extra apartments, the developers of the store and 40 others were obliged to allocate space for a supermarket.

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To do so, boards need to ensure that executives allocate resources—both capital and labor—in alignment with long-term strategies while remaining sufficiently responsive to short-term issues.

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Congress at some point will likely have to allocate funding for the program.

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Related Words

• allot 
• apportion 
• appropriate 
• designate 
• earmark 
• give 
• set aside