Allocated
/ˈæləkeɪtɪd/
Definitions
To set apart or designate for a specific purpose; to distribute.
/ˈæləkeɪtɪd/
To distribute or assign something officially
The government allocated funds for disaster relief.
💡 Simply: To give something to someone or something.
More Examples
The teacher allocated specific seats to each student.
How It's Used
"The company allocated a significant budget to research and development."
"The project manager allocated tasks to the team members."
From Middle English *alocaten, from Old French *aloquer, from Latin *ad- + locare ('to place'). The meaning has evolved from simply placing or positioning to assigning resources.
While the root has ancient origins, the specific modern sense of allocating resources is a relatively recent development, gaining traction with the rise of industrialization and complex organizational structures.
Memory tip
Think of 'locate' - to allocate is to locate something specifically.