Definition

1. Noun:

   • A financial plan: A detailed estimate of expected income and expenses for a specific period, often presented as a formal proposal.
   • An allocated amount of money: A specific sum of money set aside for a particular purpose or project.

2. Verb:

   • To plan finances: To allocate amounts of money for specific purposes in a financial plan.
   • To allow or provide for in a plan: To include an item or amount as part of a financial plan.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The city council approved the annual budget for public services.
  • We have a limited budget for office supplies this quarter.

• Verb:

  • The manager will budget carefully for the new marketing campaign.
  • Did you budget for unexpected travel expenses?

Advanced Usage

• "on a budget": With a limited amount of money to spend.

  • We are traveling on a tight budget this summer.

• "to balance the budget": To make total planned income equal total planned expenses.

  • The government's goal is to balance the federal budget.

• "budget for": To include something in a financial plan.

  • You must budget for annual maintenance costs.

Variants and Related Words

• Budgetary (adj): Relating to or involving a budget.

  • The committee faces significant budgetary constraints.

• Budgeter (n): A person who plans or manages a budget.

Synonyms

• Noun: Allocation, allowance, estimate, financial plan, funds.
• Verb: Allocate, apportion, plan, estimate, ration.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Budget something out: To plan the detailed allocation of money for various parts of a project.
  • Let's budget out the costs for each phase of construction.

Related Idioms

• "Do something on a shoestring budget": To do something with a very small amount of money.

  • They started the company on a shoestring budget.

• "Blow the budget": To spend more money than was planned or allocated.

  • The renovation blew the budget because of unforeseen structural problems.

Noun

1. a summary of intended expenditures along with proposals for how to meet them
   • the president submitted the annual budget to Congress
2. a sum of money allocated for a particular purpose
   • the laboratory runs on a budget of a million a year

Verb

1. make a budget