a lot

[ uh lot ]

noun

1. lot ( def 14 ).

adverb

1. lot ( def 21 ).

Spelling Note

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of a lot¹

First recorded in 1820–30

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

“Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.”

From Los Angeles Times

But overall, sugar hasn't received a lot of attention from the scientific community despite being the largest cultivated crop by mass on the planet.

From Salon

While there's a lot of anticipation around what the impact of tariffs will be, some experts think the actual implementation of tariffs will be narrower than the broad-based ones Trump suggested on the campaign trail.

From Salon

“And when he sees a couple of his first shots go in, he can get in that mode where he’s unconscious. I kinda expect it from him because I’ve watched him a lot.”

From Los Angeles Times

It involved a lot of inconsistencies in visa applications, photographs, financial documents, bank details and employment history.

From BBC

Related Words

• great deal
• lots
• mass