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Synonyms

allocate

American  
[al-uh-keyt] / ˈæl əˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

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

    to allocate funds for new projects.


allocate British  
/ ˈæləˌkeɪt /

verb

  1. to assign or allot for a particular purpose

  2. a less common word for locate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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.

And it is yet another argument, in an uncertain world, to allocate some money to them.

From MarketWatch

Demand for visas has exceeded supply every year for the past two decades, which is why H-1Bs are allocated by lottery.

From The Wall Street Journal

Choi noted that the amount of money someone saves up to invest in the first place is generally more important to their financial well-being than how they allocate those investments.

From The Wall Street Journal

For someone looking to allocate more to the continent, a regionally focused fund like the iShares Latin America 40 ETF is a better option.

From Barron's

That’s evident from Canada’s new defense strategy External link, which has some implications for investors looking to allocate funds in the industry.

From Barron's