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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Apportion: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：distribute equitably (apportion)

apportion 🔊

/əˈpɔːrʃn/

vt.

To divide something, like costs or responsibilities, among a group of people.

Apportion definition illustrated by friends fairly dividing a restaurant bill.

distribute equitably 🔊

➕

/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt ˈɛkwɪtəbli/

vt.

To distribute or assign something, especially costs, benefits, or duties, among a group in a fair or proportional way.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'portio' (portion). Literally 'to divide into portions'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'a PORTION'. You apportion a cake by giving each person their PORTION.

📖 Example

After the group project, they decided to apportion the costs for supplies equally among all team members. 🔊 After the group project, they decided to share the costs for supplies fairly among all team members.

🔗 Collocations

apportion blame – To assign responsibility for a fault or mistake.

apportion costs – To divide expenses among parties.

apportion responsibility – To assign duties or accountability in shares.

🔄 Synonyms

allocate (vt.) – To set aside or designate for a specific purpose.

distribute (vt.) – To give shares of something to several people.

share (v.) – To have or use something jointly with others.

🚫 Antonyms

hoard (v.) – To accumulate and keep for oneself without sharing.

lump (vt.) – To put together in a single group without distinction.

🌱 Derivatives

apportionment (n.) – The act or result of apportioning something.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin via French, this legal and fiscal term entered English in the late 16th century. Historically significant in contexts like apportioning representation (U.S. Constitution) or liabilities, reflecting the need for systematic resource and responsibility distribution in organized societies.

Meaning 2：allocate systematically (apportion)

apportion 🔊

/əˈpɔːrʃn/

vt.

To give out parts of something, like time or resources, in a planned way.

Apportion meaning shown by allocating time and tasks in a pie chart.

allocate systematically 🔊

➕

/ˈæləkeɪt ˌsɪstəˈmætɪkli/

vt.

To divide and assign something, such as time, space, or resources, according to a plan or specific proportions.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The teacher had to carefully apportion the 60 minutes of the lesson between grammar practice and group discussion. 🔊 The teacher had to carefully divide the 60 minutes of the lesson between grammar practice and group discussion.

🔗 Collocations

apportion time – To allocate specific amounts of time to different tasks.

apportion resources – To distribute available assets or materials according to a plan.

apportion space – To divide and assign areas within a given limit.

🔄 Synonyms

allot (vt.) – To give or assign a share, especially of time or resources.

ration (vt.) – To allow someone only a fixed amount of a resource.

meter (vt.) – To measure or distribute in regulated amounts.

🚫 Antonyms

waste (vt.) – To use or expend carelessly or without purpose.

mismanage (vt.) – To manage or administer something badly or inefficiently.