apportion
verb
ap·por·tion ə-ˈpȯr-shən 
apportioned; apportioning ə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)niŋ
transitive verb
: to divide and share out according to a plan
especially : to make a proportionate division or distribution of
Representatives are apportioned among the states.
apportionable
ə-ˈpȯr-shə-nə-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- allocate
- allot
- allow
- assign
- distribute
- lot
- ration
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The proceeds from the auction will be apportioned among the descendants. Apportion the expenses between the parties involved. The agency apportions water from the lake to residents.
Recent Examples on the Web Since House districts are used to apportion the Electoral College and states use census data to reapportion their own legislatures, the census quite literally rewrites the map of American political power every 10 years. 
Matt Ford, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 The data collected are used to apportion the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. David M. Zimmer, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2022 Utilities, overseen by regulators, apportion the costs of operations and decide what should be borne by shareholders whose investments are sought and prized, and ratepayers who benefit from delivery of electricity. Stephen Singer, courant.com, 4 Mar. 2022 Census data are used by the states to apportion political power by setting state legislative and congressional districts. Stephen Singer, courant.com, 15 Mar. 2022 In Palm Beach Gardens, the flexibility meant that the city may be well within its right to apportion $2.1 million to a series of projects around a new set of links. Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2022 Adulation is difficult to apportion in any team effort and becomes an even pricklier matter when the success is outsize. Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2021 And that's how every place, every country in the world, all the time, that has some rhyme and reason to their health care decides how to apportion their health care: what to pay for, what to give people. Bonnie Kristian, The Week, 29 Sep. 2021 Our research provides insights into how large pharmaceutical companies apportion their revenues between the costs of doing business, investing in future innovation, and distributing profits to shareholders. Fred D. Ledley, STAT, 20 Dec. 2021 See More
Matt Ford, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 The data collected are used to apportion the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. David M. Zimmer, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2022 Utilities, overseen by regulators, apportion the costs of operations and decide what should be borne by shareholders whose investments are sought and prized, and ratepayers who benefit from delivery of electricity. Stephen Singer, courant.com, 4 Mar. 2022 Census data are used by the states to apportion political power by setting state legislative and congressional districts. Stephen Singer, courant.com, 15 Mar. 2022 In Palm Beach Gardens, the flexibility meant that the city may be well within its right to apportion $2.1 million to a series of projects around a new set of links. Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2022 Adulation is difficult to apportion in any team effort and becomes an even pricklier matter when the success is outsize. Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2021 And that's how every place, every country in the world, all the time, that has some rhyme and reason to their health care decides how to apportion their health care: what to pay for, what to give people. Bonnie Kristian, The Week, 29 Sep. 2021 Our research provides insights into how large pharmaceutical companies apportion their revenues between the costs of doing business, investing in future innovation, and distributing profits to shareholders. Fred D. Ledley, STAT, 20 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French apportionner, from a- (from Latin ad-) + portionner to portion
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing apportion
Legal Definition
apportion
transitive verb
ap·por·tion ə-ˈpȯr-shən
: to make a usually proportionate division or distribution of (an amount due) according to a plan: as
a
: to divide (an amount due in tax or other liability) among the parties responsible for respective shares of the payment compare contribution
b
: to assign (a portion of the consideration agreed to in a contract) as payment for the other party's partial performance
c
: to distribute (corporate dividends) based on some proportion
d
: to assign (legislative representatives and taxes) among the states as provided by law
apportions
verb
1
as in allots
to give as a share or portion apportioned the profits according to years of service with the company Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- allots
- allocates
- assigns
- distributes
- rations
- lots
- divides
- allows
- gives
- dispenses
- portions
- administers
- splits
- grants
- prorates
- measures
- deals
- contributes
- parts
- awards
- hands out
- redistributes
- accords
- meters
- donates
- reallocates
- reassigns
- doles out
- earmarks
- reserves
- admeasures
- chips in
- parcels (out)
- reapportions
- metes (out)
- shares (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denies
- retains
- withholds
- deprives (of)
- begrudges
- keeps
- appropriates
- confiscates
- arrogates
- stints
2
as in distributes
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals apportioned the grant money to the winners of the competition Synonyms & Similar Words
- distributes
- dispenses
- allocates
- divides
- provides
- administers
- assigns
- portions
- supplies
- prorates
- donates
- furnishes
- hands out
- allots
- shares
- doles out
- contributes
- redistributes
- appropriates
- splits
- disburses
- proportions
- issues
- rations
- spreads
- circulates
- bestows
- lots
- deals (out)
- disseminates
- parcels (out)
- parts
- disperses
- metes (out)
- scatters
- dishes out
- reallocates
- allows
- sets
- pledges
- admeasures
- measures (out)
- chips in
- divvies (up)
- reapportions
- shares (out)
- dollops (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denies
- refuses
- withholds
- rejects
- disallows
- begrudges
- declines
- misallocates
- deprives (of)
- pinches
- skimps
- stints
- niggles (out)