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 Pirates, Meyer said, do not spend all the money they are allotted to sign draft picks. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

The research and design process for the makeup was allotted 18 months prior to principal photography, so Dunckley had the opportunity to get the execution down to a science. — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026

According to the event agenda, organizers set aside 40 minutes for public comment, with each speaker allotted two to three minutes. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Aldridge was only allotted 15 minutes with the famous singer, and was inspired by old photo booth pictures of Warhol. — Mary Wenthur, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 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