allocate
gb/ˈæləkˌeɪt/ us/ˈæləkˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 3700
elkülönít, allokál, kijelöl
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to allocate [something] to [someone/something]
The company will allocate more funds to research and development next year.
A vállalat jövőre több forrást különít el kutatás-fejlesztésre.
Teachers must allocate enough time for each topic in the syllabus.
A tanároknak elegendő időt kell kijelölniük a tanterv minden témájára.
The government allocated housing to families affected by the flood.
We need to allocate our resources wisely to finish the project.
The manager allocated tasks based on each team member's skills.
Learner examples
The teacher allocated extra time for the test.
A tanár plusz időt jelölt ki a dolgozatra.
They allocated money to build a new park.
Pénzt különítettek el egy új park építésére.
We allocated jobs to each person in the group.
The city allocated land for a new school.
She allocated her time carefully between work and family.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'allocate' with 'assign' without realizing that 'allocate' usually refers to dividing limited resources in an official or planned way.
Meaning
Give resources for a purpose
Collocations
allocate funds
|allocate time
|allocate resources
|allocate budget
|allocate staff
Synonyms
assign (More general; can refer to giving tasks, roles, or items without implying official planning.)
|
apportion (More formal; often used for dividing into shares or proportions.)
Antonyms
withhold (To refuse to give something that could be allocated.)
|
misallocate (To give resources to the wrong place or purpose.)
Themes
business
|management
|government
|finance
|work
Definition
To give something, such as time, money, or work, to someone or for a special use.
To officially assign or set apart resources, duties, or amounts for a specific person, group, or purpose.
Grammar
Dictionary form
allocate
IPA
GB/ˈæləkˌeɪt/
US/ˈæləkˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
al - loc - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (al)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: allocate
- 3rd Person Singular: allocates
- Present Participle: allocating
- Past: allocated
Word family
Forms
allocates
verb
allocating
verb
allocated
verb
Core family
allocation
noun B2
Related words
reallocate
verb
reallocation
noun
allocator
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unallocated
adjective
Advanced or less common
allocatable
adjective
misallocate
verb
misallocation
noun
Expressions
allocate funds
1/ˈæləkˌeɪt fˈʌndz/
fixed phrase
Give money for a purpose
To decide how much money will be used for something.
Examples
- The committee allocated funds for scholarships.
- Extra funds were allocated to repair the old bridge.
allocate resources
1/ˈæləkˌeɪt ɹˈisɔɹsɪz/
fixed phrase
Give resources for a use
To decide where money, time, people, or other things will be used.
Examples
- The project manager must allocate resources carefully to meet the deadline.
- Governments allocate resources to improve public services.
allocate time
1/ˈæləkˌeɪt tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Give time for a purpose
To decide how much time will be used for something.
Examples
- We need to allocate more time for training.
- She allocated two hours each day to study.