Words / B2

AL-uh-kayt/ˈæləkeɪt/

To allocate is to set aside money, time, staff, or space for a particular purpose — more official than give. You allocate resources / funds / hours to a task; assign is closer when the object is a person or a job. In everyday talk, people say set aside or give; allocate belongs in plans, budgets, and reports.

Meaning

To give something, such as money or time, for a particular purpose.

Examples

• “The school allocated two hours to reading.”
• “The council allocated extra funds to school repairs.”
• “We allocated twenty minutes to questions at the end.”

Good to know

allocate money/time/resources to. Official register. Contrast: assign a person a task.

Near in meaning

set aside

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