1 C1 neutral
To separate and allocate a part of something, such as money or land, for a specific purpose.
"The council portioned off part of the budget for road repairs."
separable
portion off
C1 neutral separable transitive
To separate or allocate a part of something from the whole, especially a share of money, land, or resources.
In plain English
To take a part of something and set it aside or give it to a specific purpose.
What does "portion off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To divide an area or physical space from the rest, creating a separate section.
"They portioned off a corner of the warehouse to use as a small office."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Portion' means a share or part; 'off' indicates separation — giving the clear image of cutting away a defined piece from the whole.
Actually means
To take a part of something and set it aside or give it to a specific purpose.
Usage tip
More common in formal or administrative contexts. Often used in discussions of budgets, estates, or land division. Less common in everyday casual speech.
Words that pair with "portion off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
budget land estate funds area resources
How to conjugate "portion off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
portion off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
portions off
he/she/it
Past simple
portioned off
yesterday
Past participle
portioned off
have + pp
-ing form
portioning off
continuous
Hear "portion off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "portion off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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