List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 25

SYNONYMS: assign, allot, apportion, allocate.
These verbs mean to set aside or give out in portions or shares.

Both assign, which applies to an authoritative act, and allot refer to arbitrary distribution, but neither implies equality or fairness of division: The hardest work was assigned to the strongest laborers. We allot a half hour a day for recreation.
To apportion is to divide according to prescribed rules and implies fair distribution: The first duty of a legislator is to apportion penalties.
Allocate usually means to set something apart from a larger quantity, as of money, for a specific purpose or for a particular person or group: We allocated for the education of each student.