allot

[ uh-lot ]
See synonyms for: allotallotsallottedallotting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),al·lot·ted, al·lot·ting.
  1. to divide or distribute by share or portion; distribute or parcel out; apportion: to allot the available farmland among the settlers.

  2. to appropriate for a special purpose: to allot money for a park.

  1. to assign as a portion; set apart; dedicate.

Compare Meanings

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

Origin of allot

1
First recorded in 1425–75; earlier alot, late Middle English alotten, from Middle French aloter, equivalent to a- a-5 + lot lot (from Germanic ) + -er infinitive suffix

synonym study For allot

1. See assign.

Other words from allot

  • al·lot·ta·ble, adjective
  • al·lot·ter, noun
  • mis·al·lot, verb (used with object), mis·al·lot·ted, mis·al·lot·ting.
  • pre·al·lot, verb (used with object), pre·al·lot·ted, pre·al·lot·ting.
  • re·al·lot, verb (used with object), re·al·lot·ted, re·al·lot·ting.

Words that may be confused with allot

Words Nearby allot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use allot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for allot

allot

/ (əˈlɒt) /


verb-lots, -lotting or -lotted (tr)
  1. to assign or distribute (shares, etc)

  2. to designate for a particular purpose: money was allotted to cover expenses

  1. (foll by to) apportion: we allotted two hours to the case

Origin of allot

1
C16: from Old French aloter, from lot portion, lot

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012