apportion
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have apportionedperfect
-
has apportionedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been apportioningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are apportioningprogressive
-
am apportioningprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been apportioningperfect progressive
-
is apportioningprogressive 3rd person singular
-
apportioningparticiple
-
apportionssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had apportionedperfect
-
had been apportioningperfect progressive
-
apportionedparticiple
-
were apportioningprogressive plural
-
apportionedsimple
-
was apportioningprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of apportion
1565–75; < Middle French apportionner, equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + portionner to portion
Explanation
To apportion is to divide something into shares and hand it out. With 11 guests at your birthday party, it makes sense to cut the cake into 12 slices and apportion one to each — leaving one slice for you! The verb apportion means "allocate" or "divvy up," and it's often used to talk about the way money is distributed. For example, your parents might evenly apportion an allowance to each of their children, or apportion slightly less money to your youngest sibling. In government, power is also apportioned in various ways, as when laws apportion a certain number of congressional representatives to each state.
Vocabulary lists containing apportion
The Legislative Branch, Sections 1–3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
In the Shadow of Liberty
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
She taught them about the matching system and how to apportion their savings to get the most out of it.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
But it’s hard if not impossible to prove that social media caused any given individual’s troubles, let alone apportion liability among the platforms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
The preliminary report states its role is "not to apportion blame or liability".
From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025
Those on both sides say they are willing to continue trying to reach a deal on how to apportion cutbacks in water use after 2026, when the current rules expire.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2024
Rationales for still other ways to apportion the money are possible.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
