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Meaning & use

lot

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/lɒt/
US/lɑːt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountableinformal

    A large amount or number of something, used in a relaxed way.

    Grammar: Used as a lot of or lots of; a lot alone works as an adverb: I like it a lot.

    Patterns

    • a lot of something
    • lots of something
    • a lot

    We have a lot of homework tonight.

    She reads a lot on the train.

    There were lots of people at the market.

  2. nouncountableAmerican

    A piece of land set aside for a particular use, such as parking or building.

    Grammar: Often with a modifier: parking lot, vacant lot.

    Patterns

    • a parking lot
    • a vacant lot

    I left the car in the parking lot.

    They bought an empty lot and built a small house.

    Kids played ball in the vacant lot.

  3. nouncountable

    A group of items sold together, especially at an auction.

    Grammar: Numbered at auctions: lot 42.

    Patterns

    • lot number
    • bid on a lot

    He bid on a lot of old books.

    Lot 12 sold for double the estimate.

    The dealer bought the whole lot.

  4. nounsingularliterary

    The situation in life that fate gives a person.

    Grammar: Used with a possessive: her lot in life.

    Patterns

    • someone's lot
    • accept your lot

    He was content with his lot.

    It was her lot to care for her brothers.

    Workers hoped to improve their lot.

Word forms

plurallots

Common combinations

a lot of
A lot of students walk to school.
parking lot
The parking lot was full by noon.
a whole lot
I learned a whole lot from that class.
draw lots
They drew lots to decide who went first.
the lot
She ate the lot before we arrived.
vacant lot
A garden grew in the vacant lot.

Synonyms and how they differ

plenty
Plenty means more than enough, whereas a lot only means a large amount.
loads
Loads is more casual and a little more emphatic than a lot.
many
Many is used only for countable nouns and is more formal in positive statements.
plot
Plot is the usual word for a piece of land in British English, while lot is more American.

Opposites

fewlittle

Word family

lots noun
informal plural meaning many
allot verb
to give out as a share
allotment noun
a share given, or a small plot for growing food
lottery noun
a game of chance with numbers

Commonly confused: lot or alot? lot or allot?

lot vs alot

Alot is a common misspelling. The correct form is two words: a lot.

lot vs allot

Allot is a verb meaning to assign a share. It is a separate word from a lot.

Practice

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