allot

verb

al·​lot ə-ˈlät 

allotted; allotting

transitive verb

1

: to assign as a share or portion

allot 10 minutes for the speech

2

: to distribute by or as if by lot

allot seats to the press

allotter noun

Synonyms of allot

• allocate
• assign
• distribute
• lot

Examples of allot in a Sentence

Each speaker will be allotted 15 minutes.

The newspaper will allot a full page to each of the three mayoral candidates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many school districts in Michigan are already approaching the maximum number of days allotted by the state to cancel classes. —Terell Bailey, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

Since September, Securus Technologies has paid a $375,000 monthly commission to the agency, which is allotted for prisoner programs and services. —Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch, 23 Jan. 2026

Both state prosecutors and Busfield's defense were allotted an hour each to present their arguments for and against his continued detention, respectively. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 21 Jan. 2026

The city found the $12 million allotted for that was not being fully drawn down this year. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alotten, borrowed from Anglo-French aloter, from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -loter, verbal derivative of lot "lot, portion, share," borrowed from Old Low Franconian *hlota-, going back to Germanic *hluta- — more at lot entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for allot

• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot
• distraught

Kids Definition

allot

verb

al·​lot ə-ˈlät 

allotted; allotting

: to assign as a share or portion

allot 10 minutes for the speech