allocate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to assign or allot for a particular purpose
-
a less common word for locate
Synonym Usage
See assign.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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allocatesimple
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allocatessimple
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have allocatedperfect
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has allocatedperfect
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am allocatingprogressive
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are allocatingprogressive
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is allocatingprogressive
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have been allocatingperfect progressive
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has been allocatingperfect progressive
Past
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allocatedsimple
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had allocatedperfect
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was allocatingprogressive
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were allocatingprogressive
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had been allocatingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Larger banks, meanwhile, could face competition from smaller banks if they can afford to allocate money away from regulatory compliance costs and toward more services.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
SpaceX’s order book closed yesterday, and its bankers are deciding how to allocate shares before the planned listing tomorrow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
You’ve developed a thoughtful retirement plan that takes into account both the amount of money you’ll need and how to allocate it across investments and liquid income sources.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
"Hopefully things will change now. Stormont can allocate more money for this type of thing."
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
He looked at his little sister and tried to allocate blame so it all fell on her, but he couldn’t.
From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer
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.
