allocate

verb

al·​lo·​cate ˈa-lə-ˌkāt How to pronounce allocate (audio)
allocated; allocating
Synonyms of allocate

transitive verb

1
: to apportion for a specific purpose or to particular persons or things : distribute
allocate tasks among human and automated components
2
: to set apart or earmark : designate
allocate a section of the building for special research purposes
allocatable
ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tə-bəl How to pronounce allocate (audio)
adjective
allocation
ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce allocate (audio)
noun
allocator
ˈa-lə-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce allocate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of allocate

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Examples of allocate in a Sentence

Money from the sale of the house was allocated to each of the children. We need to determine the best way to allocate our resources. Have enough funds been allocated to finance the project?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now imagine that space freed up for a designer to rethink the motherboard or allocate more room to other components, such as a bigger battery. — John Burek, PC Magazine, 5 July 2026 Other cost items may be allocated based on the number of customers or how much electricity customers use at particular points in time, but the idea is the same. — Theodore J. Kury, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Disneyland limited the number of reservations allocated each night for the evening tickets. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 6 July 2026 How are shoppers allocating their discretionary dollars given the recent rebound in inflation and affordability crunch resulting from higher oil prices? — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for allocate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin allocātus, past participle of allocāre "to place, stow, hire out, place on hire, allow, admit, credit," from Latin ad- ad- + locāre "to place, situate" — more at locate

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of allocate was in 1616

Phrases Containing allocate

Rhymes for allocate

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Browse Nearby Words

allocable
allocate
allocatee
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Cite this Entry

“Allocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allocate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

allocate

verb
al·​lo·​cate ˈal-ə-ˌkāt How to pronounce allocate (audio)
allocated; allocating
1
: to divide and distribute for a special reason or to particular persons or things
allocate funds among charities
2
: to set apart for a particular purpose
allocate materials for a project
allocation
ˌal-ə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce allocate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on allocate

Nglish: Translation of allocate for Spanish Speakers

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