allot

play

verb al·lot \ ə-ˈlät \

Definition of allot

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

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allotter

noun

See allot defined for English-language learners

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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 of allot from the Web

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has recently allotted nearly $100 million worth of her Facebook stock for charity.

— tessa berenson, Fortune, "Sheryl Sandberg Donates $100 Million of Facebook Stock to Charity," 18 Aug. 2017
Both schools were allotted 30,000 tickets with face value prices ranging from $125 to $225.

— michael casagrande, AL.com, "Why Alabama-FSU ticket prices won't likely get cheaper," 16 Aug. 2017
Another 3 percent of the building was allotted to Trump’s children Ivanka and Don Jr., who were just beginning to involve themselves in the family company.

— andrew rice, Daily Intelligencer, "The Original Russia Connection," 3 Aug. 2017
American allots 31 inches, United between 30 and 31 inches.

— lauren zumbach, The Seattle Times, "Care about every inch of airline legroom? Do your homework.," 28 July 2017
My light skin and white-passing features have allotted me certain pretty privileges.

— sofiya ballin, Philly.com, "Amber Rose's comments about Philly women made her look like a hypocrite," 28 July 2017
The Senate, which has fewer district offices to protect, has not yet allotted such money.

— amy b wang, Washington Post, "Break-in, ‘threatening note’ at office of GOP senator considered swing vote in health-care bill," 17 July 2017
Canada has allotted almost $250 million to this cause, and that’s less than half of the money Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has pledged.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "Canada and Sweden’s Misguided Abortion Crusade," 17 July 2017
The total amount that could be allotted to eligible states under the program is $8 billion.

— katherine burgess and lindsay wise, kansascity, "New Senate health care plan sends more money to Kansas hospitals," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'allot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of allot

Middle English alotten, from Anglo-French aloter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + lot, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hlot lot

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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allot Synonyms

Synonyms

allocate, allow, apportion, assign, distribute, lot, ration

Related Words

admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split; accord, award, give, grant; earmark, reserve; chip in, contribute, donate; reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute

Near Antonyms

begrudge, deny, deprive (of); keep, retain, stint, withhold; appropriate, arrogate, confiscate

ALLOT Defined for English Language Learners

allot

play

verb

Definition of allot for English Language Learners

: to give someone (an amount of something) to use or have

ALLOT Defined for Kids

allot

play

verb al·lot \ ə-ˈlät \

Definition of allot for Students

allotted; allotting

:to give out as a share or portion

She finished the test in the time allotted.

Learn More about allot

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allot

Definition of allot

allotter

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Origin and Etymology of allot

allot Synonyms

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ALLOT Defined for English Language Learners

allot

Definition of allot for English Language Learners

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