allot
Americanverb (used with object)
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allots,
present (3rd person singular)
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allotted,
past participle, past
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allotting
present participle
verb
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to assign or distribute (shares, etc)
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to designate for a particular purpose
money was allotted to cover expenses
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(foll by to) apportion
we allotted two hours to the case
Synonym Usage
See assign.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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allotternoun
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misallotverb (used with object)
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preallotverb (used with object)
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reallotverb (used with object)
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allottableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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allotsimple
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allotssimple
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have allottedperfect
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has allottedperfect
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am allottingprogressive
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are allottingprogressive
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is allottingprogressive
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have been allottingperfect progressive
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has been allottingperfect progressive
Past
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allottedsimple
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had allottedperfect
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was allottingprogressive
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were allottingprogressive
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had been allottingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of allot
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
Compare meaning
How does allot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you allot something, you are giving out portions: “Becky was able to allot five snacks per employee, but in the afternoon some workers sneaked back into the break room for more.” Be careful not to mistake allot for “a lot” (a large number), which has a similar spelling and the same pronunciation. Use the verb allot when you need to describe the act of assigning portions of something — be it snacks, time, or blame. The word is often used in the sense of an official group, such as a government or a corporation, dividing up and distributing small portions of something desirable, such as funding, shares, or land: “Zenitech Corporation was able to allot land rights to four groups in the area.”
Vocabulary lists containing allot
Fahrenheit 451
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List 1
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The ladies agree to allot 20 minutes to grousing about their aches and pains, and then they have to move on to some appointed discussion topic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
Passive indexes that allot the greatest influence to the biggest companies do nothing to aid in capital allocation for the broader economy, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 8, 2025
On Tuesday, Drakeford will allot money for government departments for 2026-27.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2025
This doesn’t just invite some fantastic conversations, but recontexualizes the rights we allot to non-human creatures.
From Salon ● May 29, 2025
He doesn’t allot quality time to his relatives either. absence.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
But the equal-weighted version of the index allots an equal weighting to each stock in the index, making it a better gauge of how the average S&P 500 stock is doing.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 27, 2026
I opted for a $100 annual plan that allots me two terabytes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
The Oscars are notorious for running well over the three-and-a-half-hour time period ABC allots for the telecast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2025
Included is a provision that allots $15 million to the IRS to make plans for a free direct e-file tax return system.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 12, 2022
Osiris is the judge who weighs the souls, and allots them happiness or misery, according to their deserts.
From Egyptian Literature Comprising Egyptian tales, hymns, litanies, invocations, the Book of the Dead, and cuneiform writings by Epiphanius Wilson
She has been allotted a third-floor apartment but climbing stairs is painful because of a metal rod in her leg after an operation.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The Pirates, Meyer said, do not spend all the money they are allotted to sign draft picks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Mileva discovered that Madelyn used all of her allotted daily half-hour of iPad time to talk to the chatbot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Unfortunately, the beginning of Twin Peaks’ set at 4:30 p.m. was plagued by technical issues, highlighted by an extensive sound check that leaked into the first 10 minutes of their allotted time on stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Nearly half of the hour allotted by Voldemort for his surrender had elapsed.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Take Jeffery Haynes, 40, who said he is allotting four to five hours to playing “GTA 6” on Nov. 19 — including during work hours.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
Ferrari is in the enviable position of allotting Purosangue sales to its well-regarded clients, collectors and other Friends of Enzo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
The scene is a foreshadow, and signals that the novel will compress time, dwelling on certain details or events, while allotting mere lines to other pivotal moments, or allowing them to occur offstage, in passing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2025
Some church members cautioned him against speaking out in support of migrants or allotting more church resources to them.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2024
After some prodding by Dad, the motion on allotting work finally was introduced and passed.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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