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
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.
Allocate special funding to hospitals for more comprehensive therapeutic programs and for holding this special population in the meantime.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023
Allocate a modest amount of money per month for your daughter to hang out a few times and have pocket cash for snacks and emergencies.
From Slate • Nov. 20, 2019
Allocate the funds every year to do the maintenance and limit the number of bone-jarring truck loads, and the structure will last indefinitely.
From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2018
Allocate wisely so you can max out time for pleasure, recommends Paul Dolan in his book Happiness by Design.
From Time • Aug. 7, 2017
Allocate, al′lo-kāt, v.t. to place: to assign to each his share.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
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.
