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.

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allocate British  

/ ˈæləˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to assign or allot for a particular purpose

2. a less common word for locate

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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

Investors who continue to allocate capital as if traditional geopolitical alliances, cheap energy, unconstrained resource availability, and unlimited liquidity remain intact are likely to misprice risk, they say.

From MarketWatch

While this may seem peculiar - and would have looked so had anyone witnessed it -it does make sense given individuals were allocated positions and a hierarchy installed.

From BBC

The council said applications would be processed on a first come, first served basis and would close once all the money has been allocated.

From BBC

Patronage systems allocate jobs, public-works contracts, cheap loans and access to foreign cash, hollowing out the entrepreneurial class.

From The Wall Street Journal

The decisions we have outlined here demonstrate how we allocate our resources to most beneficially support our lifestyle.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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