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

The performance tells the true story of Sarah Rector, the 11-year-old Black girl who became a millionaire in 1913 after oil was discovered on land allotted to her family. —J.m. Banks june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026

Later, in 2019, the administration allotted $3 million annually for five years. —Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Another 20,000 visas are allotted annually through the program to foreign nationals holding advanced degrees. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 9 June 2026

To keep your fridge moving in the right direction, allot 30 minutes (or less) per week for checking expiration dates, tossing, and organizing. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 4 June 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