lot
lot — verb
1. to give out a share of something, such as money, duties, or supplies, to particu
to give out a share of something, such as money, duties, or supplies, to particular people or groups
The village elders lotted the weekly food supplies among all the families.
lot + noun + among + group — distribution pattern
Each new member of the team was lotted a specific area of the project.
passive: be lotted + noun phrase
The charity lotted the donated clothes to the shelters that needed them most.
In the old system, the chief lotted fishing rights to each coastal village.
lot + noun + to + recipient — formal register
- lot supplies among
- lot duties to
- lot land to
- lot shares among
- allot
the standard modern form; 'lot' is an older variant
- allocate
common in business and planning contexts
- apportion
formal, emphasises fair division
- distribute
general-purpose term, neutral register
Grammar Patterns
lot + noun + among + people
lot + noun + to + recipient
be lotted + noun
Usage Note
This verb is much less common than its synonyms allot or allocate, which are preferred in modern English. It appears mostly in formal or historical writing.
Common Mistakes
2. to split an area of land into separate sections or parcels, usually for selling
to split an area of land into separate sections or parcels, usually for selling or building
The developer bought a large farm and lotted it into forty building sites.
lot + land + into + [number] + [noun]
After the farmer passed away, the land was lotted into twelve plots and sold at auction.
passive in real-estate contexts; measures parcel count
The town council lotted the empty area into parks and residential zones.
Omar and his sisters decided to lot their shared property into three equal parts.
- lot land into
- lot property for
- lot an area into
- subdivide
more common in modern real estate, especially for creating smaller lots
- divide up
neutral phrasal verb for splitting land
- parcel out
emphasises dividing into smaller units for distribution
- merge
to combine separate pieces into one
- consolidate
to unite parcels of land into a single holding
Grammar Patterns
lot + land + into + number + sections
be lotted + for + purpose
Usage Note
This sense is restricted to land and property contexts. It cannot be used for dividing other kinds of objects or groups.
Common Mistakes
lot — noun
1. used to describe a great many people or a great deal of something, typically whe
used to describe a great many people or a great deal of something, typically when the quantity is bigger than what is usual or expected
Adina brought a lot of snacks to share with her classmates.
a lot of + countable noun (snacks)
There were lots of people waiting outside the concert hall.
lots of + plural noun
Christopher spent a lot of time helping his neighbour carry the boxes upstairs.
The children ate lots of fruit during the picnic at the park.
- a lot of
- lots of
Grammar Patterns
a lot of + noun
lots of + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used after 'there is/are' to introduce a large number or quantity ('There are a lot of options'). In informal speech, 'lots of' is even more common than 'a lot of'.
Common Mistakes
2. to a great degree, or very often — used after a verb to say that an action happe
to a great degree, or very often — used after a verb to say that an action happens a great deal or repeatedly
Ritu liked her new school a lot more than the old one.
verb + a lot for degree comparison
Charlotte travels a lot for work and visits many different countries every year.
The children play outside a lot when the weather is warm and sunny.
Matthew exercises a lot but still finds time to read before bed.
- much
more formal; common in negatives and questions ('I do not travel much')
- greatly
formal register, implies deep effect ('I greatly appreciate your help')
- frequently
focuses on repetition rather than degree
Grammar Patterns
verb + a lot
Common Mistakes
3. the main reason for a problem, difficulty, or unpleasant situation — often used
the main reason for a problem, difficulty, or unpleasant situation — often used in the fixed phrase 'that's the lot'
When the pipes froze, that was the lot — the entire kitchen flooded overnight.
that's the lot = the main cause of trouble
Emre knew the broken printer was the lot — his report could not be printed on time.
The damaged roof was the lot of their problems that winter.
The flat tyre was the lot — the family missed the start of the wedding ceremony.
- the lot
- the lot of it
- that's the lot
Grammar Patterns
that's the lot
the lot of it
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used with 'the' and typically appears in the fixed pattern 'that's the lot' or 'the lot of it'. Distinguish from sense 4 (EVERYTHING), where 'the lot' simply means 'everything' without the implication of causing problems.
4. the whole number or amount of people or things, without any exception; everythin
the whole number or amount of people or things, without any exception; everything or everyone in a group
Rafael sold the lot and moved to a smaller flat across town.
the lot = everything
The whole lot of them went to the cinema after the football match.
Sahil packed the lot into two suitcases and called a taxi to the airport.
The teacher lined up the lot and checked each uniform before the ceremony started.
- the lot
- the whole lot
- everything
more neutral and less emphatic; works in all registers
- all
can sound incomplete without 'of' or 'the'; 'the lot' is more forceful
Grammar Patterns
the lot
the whole lot
Usage Note
Frequently intensified with 'whole' ('the whole lot'). Can refer to either objects or people. More emphatic than simply saying 'everything' or 'everyone'.
5. one of several groups, batches, or sets of things that are divided up for a part
one of several groups, batches, or sets of things that are divided up for a particular purpose, usually with each group handled separately
The factory divided the toys into lots and shipped each batch to a different store.
divided into lots = batches
Each lot of students took the exam at a different time during the week.
The baker prepared three lots of bread dough for the morning delivery.
Sumin sorted the photographs into separate lots by year and month.
- divided into lots
- first lot
- second lot
- lots of
Grammar Patterns
lot of + noun
divided into lots
Usage Note
Often used with numbers ('the first lot', 'the second lot') to indicate order. The noun is countable — you can have 'one lot', 'two lots', 'several lots'.
6. a group of items or a single item that is offered for sale as one unit, especial
a group of items or a single item that is offered for sale as one unit, especially at an auction where people bid against each other
The painting was sold as lot number forty-seven at the auction house.
lot number [numeral] at auction
Matthew bid on lot twenty-three, a set of antique chairs, but lost to another buyer.
lot + number at auction — no ambiguity with 'a lot of'
The auctioneer moved quickly through each lot and called out the final prices.
Lot fifteen contained a set of silver coins from the late nineteenth century.
- lot number
- bid on a lot
- sold as a lot
Grammar Patterns
lot number + number
Usage Note
Common in auction catalogues where each lot is assigned a number. The buyer can bid on individual lots, and each lot is sold to the highest bidder.
7. a piece of ground that has been measured and is intended for building, parking,
a piece of ground that has been measured and is intended for building, parking, or another particular use
The Watanabe family bought an empty lot beside their house to plant vegetables.
countable: lot = measured parcel of land
A local developer plans to build apartments on that vacant lot near the train station.
Zoning rules on this lot only allow single-family homes, not shops or offices.
grammatical pattern: 'on + [a/the] lot'
After years of saving, Liam finally bought a corner lot to open his own café.
The city auctioned off several empty lots to raise money for new playgrounds.
- empty lot
- vacant lot
- corner lot
- parking lot
- build on a lot
- buy a lot
Usage Note
Frequently used with adjectives like 'empty', 'vacant', 'corner', 'parking' to describe the type of land.
Common Mistakes
8. the grounds and buildings of a film production company, including outdoor sets a
the grounds and buildings of a film production company, including outdoor sets and soundstages
Universal Studios' lot in California covers over four hundred acres of sets and soundstages.
proper noun + 'lot' for major film studios
Trang landed a job as a set designer on the Paramount lot last summer.
Tours of the Warner Bros. lot take visitors past famous backdrops from classic movies.
A fire on the back lot destroyed several old sets from the western film series.
Smaller production companies rent space on the lot during the off-season.
- back lot
- studio lot
- on the lot
- movie lot
- rent space on the lot
Usage Note
Often used with the name of a specific studio (e.g. 'the Paramount lot', 'the Sony lot'). 'Back lot' refers to the outdoor area with permanent sets.
9. the quality of a person's life, including their circumstances, experiences, and
the quality of a person's life, including their circumstances, experiences, and what happens to them over time
Eleni accepted her lot in life with quiet dignity, never complaining about hardship.
fixed phrase: 'one's lot in life'
The novel follows a poor family whose lot improves after they move to the city.
Tamar never believed that her lot was fixed by the circumstances of her birth.
Many young activists work to improve the lot of people living in poverty.
collocation: 'improve the lot of [someone]'
As the eldest son, his lot was to take over the family farm at nineteen.
- one's lot in life
- accept one's lot
- improve the lot of
- ease the lot of
- cast one's lot with
- fate
suggests destiny beyond one's control; more dramatic
- fortune
can be good or bad; slightly old-fashioned
- circumstances
more neutral and factual; less literary
Usage Note
Often used with possessive determiners (his/her/their lot) or in the fixed phrase 'one's lot in life'. Common with verbs like 'accept', 'improve', 'ease', 'cast'.
Common Mistakes
10. a way of making a fair choice by picking one thing blindly out of a group of mat
a way of making a fair choice by picking one thing blindly out of a group of matching items, such as numbered slips of paper or short straws
The team captains drew lots to decide which side would serve first in the match.
fixed phrase: 'draw lots'
When two candidates tied, the committee cast lots to break the tie fairly.
In ancient Athens, many public officials were chosen by lot rather than by election.
The children drew lots to see who would have to clean the classroom after school.
Saira's name was selected by lot for the final seat on the research expedition.
passive: 'was selected / chosen by lot'
- draw lots
- cast lots
- by lot
- choose by lot
- decide by lot
- draw straws
more specific — refers to picking straws of different lengths; informal
- toss a coin
different method (coin flip); used for two-way decisions
- random selection
formal and general; not limited to physical objects
Usage Note
Almost always used in fixed phrases: 'draw lots', 'cast lots', 'by lot'. The objects used (straws, slips of paper, numbered balls) are called 'lots'. Not a productive countable noun — you don't say 'a lot' in this sense.
Common Mistakes
11. a number of people who are together or who share a common quality (used informal
a number of people who are together or who share a common quality (used informally)
Right, you lot, please put your phones away and focus on the lesson.
informal address: 'you lot' = you (plural, group)
Rodrigo told the whole lot of them to stop arguing and work together.
A rough-looking lot gathered near the entrance, laughing and shouting loudly.
The staff at the community centre are a friendly lot — always ready to welcome newcomers.
structure: 'a [adjective] lot' describing a group
Lisa's cousins are a noisy lot, but they make every family party a memorable event.
- you lot
- the whole lot
- a (adjective) lot
- the lot of them
- the lot of you
Usage Note
Almost always used with a modifier ('you lot', 'the whole lot', 'a [adjective] lot'). In British English, 'you lot' is a very common informal way to address a group of people.
Common Mistakes
to decide who will do something by each person taking or choosing one of a set of objects (such as pieces of paper or short sticks) that have been marked in different ways, the result being decided by chance
The team drew lots to decide who would give the presentation to the managers.
Mayumi and Tyler cast lots to see who would wash the dishes after the dinner party.
to decide to join a person or group and to accept whatever happens to them, whether good or bad, sharing the same risks and results
Anna threw in her lot with the new company even though it was a risky choice.
The small village threw in its lot with the nearby town to raise money for a shared school.
to become a particular person's responsibility, duty, or fate, especially when the task is difficult or unpleasant
It fell to Adina's lot to organise the end-of-year party for the whole office.
The unpleasant task of cleaning the kitchen fell to Jabari's lot that week.
lot — pronoun
1. a large amount or many — used to refer to a big number or quantity without givin
a large amount or many — used to refer to a big number or quantity without giving the exact figure, especially when the speaker wants to emphasise that there is plenty of something
A lot of people came to watch the parade with Kenji and his sister.
a lot of + plural noun
Putri ate a lot at dinner and felt too full for dessert.
There is a lot to see in the old part of the city.
a lot to + infinitive
Femi has a lot of homework this weekend and cannot go out to play.
a lot of + uncountable noun
Owen learned a lot from his summer job at the library last year.
- a lot of people
- a lot of time
- a lot of money
- a lot of work
- learn a lot
- know a lot
- a lot to do
- a great deal
more formal; used mainly with uncountable nouns
- plenty
emphasises that there is enough or more than enough
- loads
informal; used in everyday speech instead of 'a lot'
- many
used only with countable plural nouns
Grammar Patterns
a lot of + noun
verb + a lot
a lot to + infinitive
Usage Note
As a pronoun, 'lot' almost always appears with the article 'a'. In formal writing, 'a great deal' or 'much' is often preferred over 'a lot'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- lotspronounA1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All of these words express large quantity, but they differ in grammar and register. 'A lot of' and its informal variant 'lots of' work with both countable and uncountable nouns ('a lot of books', 'a lot of water'), making them the most flexible choice in everyday English. 'Many' only works with countable plural nouns ('many books'), while 'much' is restricted to uncountable nouns ('much water') and sounds formal or unnatural in positive statements — native speakers prefer 'a lot of water' over 'much water'. 'Plenty' suggests more than enough ('plenty of time') and carries a reassuring tone. 'A great deal' is formal and used mainly with uncountable nouns ('a great deal of effort'). In negative sentences and questions, 'many' and 'much' are natural and common ('not many people', 'How much time?'), while 'a lot of' is less frequent in negatives. For example: 'There are many options' (neutral, countable) versus 'There are a lot of options' (everyday speech) versus 'There are plenty of options' (emphasises sufficiency).
Common collocations
Etymology
Lot comes from Old English hlot, meaning an object used in random selection (a 'lot' in the sense of casting lots). The word traces back to Proto-Germanic *hlutą, referring to a share or portion assigned by chance. From the practice of drawing lots to divide goods fairly, the meaning expanded to 'a share someone receives' (one's lot in life), then to 'any portion or quantity' (a lot of something). The sense of 'a measured piece of land' developed in American English from the idea of a portion of land assigned to someone. The verb sense 'to divide into lots' followed from this land-related use.