Word
allocate
Meanings
to assign or distribute resources or responsibilities for a specific purpose
to set aside a particular amount of money, time, or space for something
Definition
To allocate means to assign or distribute something for a particular purpose.
To allocate something is to decide how it should be shared, used, or set aside. It often involves dividing limited resources such as money, time, staff, or space among different needs. The idea is that each part goes to a specific task or person according to a plan or priority.
Examples
- The department will allocate extra staff to the customer-support team during peak season.
- I had to allocate my time carefully to finish the report while preparing for the presentation.
- They decided to allocate more space to collaborative areas when redesigning their office.
- She asked the committee to allocate funds to training rather than new equipment.
- You can allocate tasks across the group so that everyone contributes without being overloaded.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse allocate with locate, but allocate means to assign or distribute, not to find where something is.
More at C1 level
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More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.