lot
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a large number or amount of something.
n.a large quantity or number; frequently used in the partitive construction 'a lot of'.
Simple“There were a lot of people at the concert last night.”
In context“The researchers gathered a lot of data over the summer, but they still need to verify the results before publishing the study.”
UsageIn the singular 'a lot', it acts as a quantifier followed by 'of' and a noun phrase.
PitfallI have a lots of work to do. I have a lot of work to do.Use 'a lot of' (singular) or 'lots of' (plural), but never 'a lots of'.
- 02 A1 Beginner
adv.to a great degree or very often.
adv.to a great extent or degree; often functions as an adverbial modifier of frequency or intensity.
Simple“I travel a lot for my job, so I am rarely at home.”
In context“The patient's condition improved a lot after the new medication was administered, much to the relief of the medical staff.”
PitfallI like her alot. I like her a lot.'A lot' is always two words. 'Alot' is a common spelling error.
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a group of people who are similar in some way.
n.a number of people taken collectively, often implying a shared characteristic.
Simple“The new students seem like a friendly lot.”
In context“They are a hardworking lot in the accounting department, often staying late to ensure the books are balanced by month-end.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a small piece of land, usually for building a house or parking cars.
n.a distinct portion or plot of land, typically designated for a specific purpose such as construction or parking.
Simple“We bought a small lot near the lake to build a summer cottage.”
In context“The developer purchased the vacant lot downtown with the intention of converting it into a multi-storey parking facility.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an item or group of items sold together at an auction.
n.an individual object or a group of objects offered for sale as a single unit, particularly in an auction context.
Simple“The next lot for sale is a collection of rare stamps from the 1920s.”
In context“The auctioneer opened the bidding for lot 42, a mid-century mahogany desk that attracted significant interest from local collectors.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
n.your situation in life or what happens to you by chance.
n.a person's fortune or destiny in life; the circumstances assigned to someone by chance.
Simple“He worked hard to improve his lot in life and eventually became a manager.”
In context“She accepted her lot with a quiet dignity that surprised those who knew the extent of her recent misfortunes.”
Usage lot of people · lot of things · lot of work
From Hebrew לוֹט (lot). Doublet of Lut.
Borrowed from French Lot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.