1
chiefly dialectal
: a usually leather pouch, wallet, or pack
also
: its contents
3
: a quantity (as of energy or water) involved in, available for, or assignable to a particular situation
the A-bomb … yields its budget of energy … in a fraction of a second—
Scientific American Reader
Scientific American Reader
also
: an account of gains and losses of such a quantity
the global carbon budget
4
finance
a
: a statement of the financial position of an administration (as of a nation) for a definite period of time based on estimates of expenditures during the period and proposals for financing them
b
: a plan for the coordination of resources and expenditures
develop a budget for her company
c
: the amount of money that is available for, required for, or assigned to a particular purpose
a weekly budget for a family of five
a budget of less than $3000
budgeted; budgeting; budgets
1
a
: to put or allow for in a statement or plan coordinating resources and expenditures : to put or allow for in a budget
budgeted $200 a month to pay back student loans
funds budgeted by the administration for the project
b
: to require to adhere to a budget
Budget yourself wisely.
2
a
: to allocate funds for in a budget
budget a new hospital
b
: to plan or provide for the use of in detail
budgeting manpower
Budget your time wisely.
: to put oneself on a budget
budgeting for a vacation
: suitable for someone whose is following a plan for coordinating resources and expenditures : suitable for one on a budget (see budget entry 1) : inexpensive
Synonyms
Examples of budget in a Sentence
Noun
What's the average weekly budget for a family of five?
The film has a million-dollar budget.
He's been trying to live on a budget of less than $1,500 a month.
We'll have to work out a budget so we can buy a new car.
Verb
They budgeted millions of dollars to make the film.
The project is budgeted at more than $100,000.
He budgets $50 for entertainment each month.
If we budget carefully, we will be able to go on the trip.
I need to learn how to budget my time more wisely.
Adjective
a budget phone plan for people on fixed incomes
Recent Examples on the WebHoward Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The taxes are a critical funding source for the entire state budget.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for budget 
Noun
The police budget has crept upward since — due to districtwide salary increases and other higher costs — which angered activists who accuse the board of backtracking from commitments to phase out police.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The taxes are a critical funding source for the entire state budget.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for budget
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'budget.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near budget
Cite this Entry
“Budget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/budget. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
budget
1 of 2 noun
bud·get
ˈbəj-ət 
2
a
: a statement of estimated income and expenses
b
: a plan for using money
c
: the amount of money available for some purpose
budget
2 of 2 verb1
: to put on or in a budget
budget $50 for entertainment
2
: to provide funds for in a budget
budget a new car
3
: to plan the use of
budget one's time
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bowgette "small leather pouch," derived from early French bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to bulge
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