lot
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
How often you will meet it
Rank 902 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 20,434 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.010% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- (often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent also: batch, deal, flock, good deal, great deal, hatful a batch of lettersa deal of trouble
- a parcel of land having fixed boundaries he bought a lot on the lake
- an unofficial association of people or groups also: set, circle, band the smart set goes therethey were an angry lot
- your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you) also: fortune, destiny, fate, luck, circumstances, portion whatever my fortune may bedeserved a better fate
- anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random also: draw the luck of the drawthey drew lots for it
- any collection in its entirety also: bunch, caboodle she bought the whole caboodle
verb
- divide into lots, as of land, for example
lot in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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They’re a lot of sharks—all of them.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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I'd give a lot to know what he's after at the Cedars.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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But the robbery went on and there's no doubt a lot of pheasants slipped away to an unknown market.
The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1
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He went at once to fetch his brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to the spot.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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No fireworks for him, perhaps, ever, but, by Jove, work and will could do a lot, and he could prove himself worthy.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1