allocate
Formsallocates, allocating, allocated
Formsallocates, allocating, allocated
Pluralallocates
- 1To give out money, time, or things to people or groups by following a plan.
Like a teacher giving each group its fair share of the supplies.
The committee will allocate funds to each department based on need.
Teachers allocate class time to each subject every day.
Similardistribute, allot, assign, apportion
Note
- 2To keep money, time, or space for one special use.
Like putting some of your candy in a jar to save for later.
They allocate part of each paycheck for savings.
Let's allocate two hours for cleaning the house.
Similarassign, designate, earmark, dedicate, appropriate
Note
- 3To set aside a part of a computer's memory for a program to use.
Like saving a few seats so only your group can sit there.
The program will allocate memory to store the image.
Games allocate a lot of memory when they load new levels.
Similarreserve
Oppositefree, deallocate
Note
Less common meanings
- 4Given or set apart for a special use.
Note
- 5An old official paper that ordered a payment or grant to be made.
Like a signed note that lets someone collect money that was promised.
The clerk presented an allocate to authorize the soldiers' pay.
Without an allocate, the treasurer could not release the funds.
Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Latin allocō, made from ad- meaning "to" and locō. It is a doublet of "allow."
From Middle English allocat(e), meaning "allocated," first used as the past participle of allocate.
From Middle English allocate, the common first word of writs ordering payment, from Medieval Latin allocātum. It may instead come from allocāte, a command form of allocō.