Apportion: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something like resources or duties needs to be divided among people or groups in a fair or specific manner.

• The accountant had to apportion the budget among the various departments
• The lawyer recommended that the property be apportioned equally between the heirs

Often used in business or financial settings where resources, time, or money are assigned for a specific purpose.

• The manager decided to allocate more funds to the marketing team
• They had to allocate a certain amount of time for each task

Used when handing out items or resources to multiple people or locations, often implying a wide spread.

• The teacher will distribute the test papers to the students
• After harvesting, the farmers distribute the crops to local markets

Commonly used when splitting something into parts or sections, without necessarily implying fairness or a specific method.

• They had to divide the cake among the children
• The project was too large, so they decided to divide it into smaller tasks

Used when dividing and distributing something in measured amounts, often in a formal or official capacity.

• The committee will apportion the budget among the various departments.
• The teacher needs to apportion the time equally between lectures and discussions.

Best used when giving or assigning a specific amount of something, especially time, money, or resources.

• Each student was allotted 10 minutes to present their project.
• The funds were allotted for the construction of a new library.

Used when designating tasks, roles, or specific duties to someone, usually in a work or educational setting.

• The manager will assign the new project to the most experienced engineer.
• The teacher assigned homework to be completed over the weekend.

Informal term often used when distributing something, typically in small portions, and sometimes with a connotation of scarcity or limited resources.

• The soup kitchen doles out meals to the homeless every evening.
• The coach doles out praise sparingly to keep the athletes motivated.