a lot

[ uh lot ]
/ ə ˈlɒt /

noun

lot(def 14).

adverb

lot(def 21).

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

usage note for a lot

As a noun and adverb, a lot is frequently misspelled as alot.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH a lot

a lot allot

Words nearby a lot

a list, a little, a little bird, a little knowledge, a little learning is a dangerous thing, a lot, a man is known by the company he keeps, a man's home is his castle, a man's reach should exceed his grasp, a mensa et thoro, a midsummer night's dream
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Idioms and Phrases with alot

a lot

Very many, a large number; also, very much. For example, A lot of people think the economy is declining, or Sad movies always made her cry a lot. It is sometimes put as a whole lot for greater emphasis, as in I learned a whole lot in his class. It may also emphasize a comparative indication of amount, as in We need a whole lot more pizza to feed everyone, or Mary had a lot less nerve than I expected. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.