What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disburse
Example
The company will disburse the funds to the shareholders at the end of the quarter. [disburse: verb]
Example
The government will disburse the aid package to the affected regions. [disbursing: present participle]
allocate
Example
The manager will allocate the budget for the upcoming project. [allocate: verb]
Example
The teacher will allocate the tasks among the students for the group project. [allocating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Allocate is more commonly used than disburse in everyday language. Allocate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disburse is less common and refers specifically to financial transactions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disburse and allocate?
Both disburse and allocate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but disburse may be slightly more formal due to its association with financial transactions.
