The difference between Allocate and Assign

When used as verbs, allocate means to set aside for a purpose, whereas assign means to designate or set apart something for some purpose.


Assign is also noun with the meaning: an assignee.

check bellow for the other definitions of Allocate and Assign

  1. Allocate as a verb:

    To set aside for a purpose.

  2. Allocate as a verb:

    To distribute according to a plan, generally followed by the adposition .

    Examples:

    "The bulk of K–12 education funds are allocated to school districts that in turn pay for the cost of operating schools."

  3. Allocate as a verb (computing):

    To reserve a portion of memory for use by a computer program.

  1. Assign as a verb (transitive):

    To designate or set apart something for some purpose.

    Examples:

    "to assign a day for trial"

  2. Assign as a verb (transitive):

    To appoint or select someone for some office.

    Examples:

    "to assign counsel for a prisoner"

  3. Assign as a verb (transitive):

    To allot or give something as a task.

  4. Assign as a verb (transitive):

    To attribute or sort something into categories.

  5. Assign as a verb (transitive, legal):

    To transfer property, a legal right, etc., from one person to another.

  6. Assign as a verb (transitive, programming):

    To give (a value) to a variable.

    Examples:

    "We assign 100 to x."

  1. Assign as a noun:

    An assignee.

  2. Assign as a noun (obsolete):

    A thing relating or belonging to something else; an appurtenance.

  3. Assign as a noun (obsolete):

    An assignment or appointment.

  4. Assign as a noun (obsolete):

    A design or purpose.