budget
/ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈʌdʒɪt] /ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈʌdʒɪt] /ˈbə-jət/ (ame, mw)
budget — noun
- budgetsingular
- budgetsplural
1. a written plan that sets out what money will come in and where it should go duri
a written plan that sets out what money will come in and where it should go during a certain period.
The school board approved a new budget for library books and science kits.
budget for + purpose
After rent went up, Roya rewrote her monthly budget at the kitchen table.
monthly budget
The festival budget includes stage lights, security guards, and extra toilets.
Without a clear budget, the club kept ordering food it could not afford.
- spending plan
plain description of a plan for future costs
- financial plan
broader and more formal than everyday budget
- estimate
can focus on guessed costs without a full spending plan
文法句型
a budget for + project/purpose
draw up + a budget
用法筆記
Often names the plan itself, whether or not the money has been spent yet. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is the plan on paper, while sense 2 is the amount available.
常見錯誤
2. the money set aside for a job, trip, person, or stretch of time.
the money set aside for a job, trip, person, or stretch of time.
Because our budget was small, we chose the guesthouse beside the station.
budget was small
The kitchen remodel stayed within budget by reusing the old cabinets.
stay within budget
Nadia found a wedding dress that fit her budget without looking plain.
On a student budget, Jin packed sandwiches instead of buying airport meals.
- allowance
often a regular amount given to one person
- funds
more formal and broader than an everyday budget
- spending limit
stresses the maximum amount you should not pass
文法句型
on a budget
within budget
fit + somebody's budget
用法筆記
Very common in fixed phrases such as 'on a budget', 'within budget', and 'under budget'. Unlike sense 1, this sense talks about the money available, not the document or plan.
常見錯誤
3. in British politics, the yearly announcement explaining how the government expec
in British politics, the yearly announcement explaining how the government expects to raise and use public money.
Reporters waited outside Parliament for details from the spring Budget.
the spring Budget
The Chancellor used the Budget to promise more money for local buses.
use the Budget to + action
Many teachers said the Budget did too little for school repairs.
Investors watched the Budget speech before the pound moved in late trading.
- fiscal statement
formal term for an official report about state income and spending
- budget statement
close in meaning and often used in news reports
文法句型
the Budget
present + the Budget
Budget speech
用法筆記
Usually refers to the formal annual event and statement, especially in the UK, and is often written with a capital B. Distinguish from sense 1: this is a public government announcement, not a private spending plan.
4. the part of your time, energy, or another resource that you decide to give to so
the part of your time, energy, or another resource that you decide to give to something.
The editor left a time budget for one more interview before printing.
time budget for + task
The workshop has a one-hour budget for questions at the end.
one-hour budget
The app shows each child's daily screen-time budget after school.
With only a two-hour budget, the volunteers painted the front hallway first.
- allocation
slightly more formal and often used in planning contexts
- quota
often sounds stricter and more official
- allowance
can refer to an amount allowed for a purpose
文法句型
a budget of + time/energy
a budget for + task
用法筆記
This sense is usually used with non-money resources such as time, effort, attention, or screen time. Unlike sense 2, the limit is not necessarily money.
常見錯誤
budget — verb
- budgetpresent simple I / you / we / they
- budgets3rd person singular
- budgeting-ing form
- budgetedpast simple
1. to work out in advance how much money can be spent on something.
to work out in advance how much money can be spent on something.
The cafe owner budgeted extra money for milk after cheese prices rose.
budget money for + item
We budget carefully each August before school fees and winter coats arrive.
budget carefully
Anika budgeted for train tickets before she booked the hostel in Kyoto.
The film team forgot to budget for rain covers and lost a shooting day.
文法句型
budget for + thing
budget + amount + for + purpose
budget carefully
用法筆記
Often takes 'for' before the thing money is needed for, but it can also be used without an object when the context already makes the spending clear. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about money, not time or effort.
常見錯誤
2. to set aside a certain amount of time, effort, or another resource before you st
to set aside a certain amount of time, effort, or another resource before you start.
Please budget two extra hours for the mountain road after dark.
budget + amount + for + task
Lena budgeted enough energy for the final exam after her night shift.
budget energy for + purpose
The museum budgeted more staff time for school visits during the holiday week.
Luca forgot to budget any time for the bank queue on Friday.
- allow for
common phrase for including extra time or effort in a plan
- set aside
stresses reserving the resource in advance
- leave room for
slightly less formal and often used for time or space
文法句型
budget + amount + for + task
budget + time/energy + for + purpose
用法筆記
The object is usually time, effort, staff time, or some other limited resource. Unlike sense 1, the thing being measured does not have to be money.
常見錯誤
budget — adjective
- budgetpositive
- budgetercomparative
- budgetestsuperlative
1. cheap enough for people who need to spend carefully.
cheap enough for people who need to spend carefully.
They booked a budget airline and spent the savings on museum tickets.
budget + noun
Our team stayed in a budget hotel near the ferry terminal.
budget hotel
The school bought budget laptops for the typing class, not for gaming.
A budget meal can still taste fresh if the cook uses seasonal vegetables.
- affordable
slightly broader and not limited to low-price products
- low-cost
common in business or travel writing
- economy
often used for basic versions of travel or products
文法句型
budget + hotel/airline/laptop/meal
用法筆記
Almost always comes before a noun, as in 'budget airline' or 'budget meal'. If you need an after-verb form, English more often uses 'budget-friendly' instead.