Meaning of “lot” in the English Dictionary

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"lot" in English

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lotnoun

uk ​ /lɒt/ us ​ /lɑːt/

lot noun (LARGE AMOUNT)

a lot (of) informal

More examples

A1 lots (of) a large amount or number of people or things:

She eats lots of fruit.
There were a lot of people there.
He does a lot of travelling in his job.
I've got a lot to do today.
He earns lots of money.
There's lots of food.
a lot

A1 very much or very often:

Your sister looks a lot like you.
I'm feeling a lot better today.
He looks a lot older than his wife.
We used to go there a lot.
have a lot to answer for

› to be the main cause of a problem or an unpleasant situation:

People who sell drugs to kids have a lot to answer for.
the lot informal

› everything:

I made enough curry for three people and he ate the lot.
Have I got everything? Is that the lot?
I'll sell you the whole lot for only £50.
I'm sick of the lot of them.

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lot noun (GROUP)

› [ C ] UK an amount or set of things, especially when there are several of these amounts:

I've already done one lot of washing.
Another lot of visitors will be here this afternoon.

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lot noun (SALE)

› [ C ] in an auction (= public sale), an object or set of objects that are being sold:

Lot number 134 is a fine old walnut bureau.
See also
job lot

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lot noun (LIFE)

sb's lot/the lot of sb

› the quality of someone's life and the experiences that they have:

They should do something to improve the lot of the lowest-paid workers.
Do you think he's happy with his lot?

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lot noun (CHANCE)

draw lots

› to make a decision by choosing from a set of objects such as pieces of paper or sticks that are all the same except for one:

We drew lots to decide who would go.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

Lots, a lot, plentyWe use lots, a lot and plenty in informal styles to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. Lots and a lot are similar in meaning to much and many. Plenty means ‘enough’ or ‘more than enough’. Lots is even more informal than a lot: …
Much, many, a lot of, lots of: quantifiersWe use the quantifiers much, many, a lot of, lots of to talk about quantities, amounts and degree. We can use them with a noun (as a determiner) or without a noun (as a pronoun). …
Much, many with a nounWe use much with singular uncountable nouns and many with plural nouns: …
A lot of, lots of with a nounWe use a lot of and lots of in informal styles. Lots of is more informal than a lot of. A lot of and lots of can both be used with plural countable nouns and with singular uncountable nouns for affirmatives, negatives, and questions: …
Much, many, a lot of, lots of: negative questionsWhen we use much and many in negative questions, we are usually expecting that a large quantity of something isn’t there. When we use a lot of and lots of in negative questions, we are usually expecting a large quantity of something. …
Much, many, a lot, lots: without a nounWe usually leave out the noun after much, many and a lot, lots when the noun is obvious: …
Much with comparative adjectives and adverbs: much older, much fasterWe can use much before comparative adjectives and adverbs to make a stronger comparison: …
Too much, too many and so much, so many …
As much as, as many asWhen we want to make comparisons connected with quantity, we use as much as and as many as: …
Much, many and a lot of, lots of: typical errors …
Much, a lot, lots, a good deal: adverbsWe use much, a lot, lots and a good deal as adverbs to refer to frequency, quantity and degree. …
MuchWe use much in questions and negative clauses to talk about degrees of something. We put it in end position: …
A lot, a good deal and a great dealWe can use a lot, a good deal and a great deal as adverbs of frequency, quantity or degree: …

Idiom(s)

there's a lot of it about

lotnoun [ plural ]

uk ​ /lɒt/ us ​ /lɑːt/ UK informal

(Definition of “lot” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"lot" in American English

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lotnoun

us ​ /lɑt/

lot noun (LARGE AMOUNT)

a lot

› A lot can mean much or often:

You look a lot like your sister.
We eat out a lot.
a lot of also lots of

› A lot of or lots of means a large amount or number of something:

I saved a lot of money with those coupons.
They want to have lots of children.

lot noun (LAND)

› [ C ] an area of land:

They purchased a lot last summer and built a house on it the following year.

(Definition of “lot” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"lot" in Business English

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lotnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /lɒt/ us ​

› COMMERCE in an auction (= a sale of goods or property to the person who offers the most money), an object or set of objects that are being sold:

Lot 57 is a mahogany work desk. Do I have a bid?

› PRODUCTION an amount or set of goods that is produced at the same time or sold together:

The manufacturer sells to a wholesaler or agent, who sells in smaller lots to other customers.
Ingredients should be clearly listed on the manufacturer's label with the lot number and the date of expiration.

› PROPERTY an area of land used for a particular purpose:

a building/vacant lot We have residential and commercial building lots and acreage for sale.
a parking lot

› STOCK MARKET an amount of shares that is sold together:

The Stock Exchange asked companies to reduce the smallest traded lot of shares to 100 from 1,000.

See also

job lot

(Definition of “lot” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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