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

• allocate
• allow
• apportion
• assign
• distribute
• lot
• ration

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

He’s averaged only about 23 minutes per game for his career, and logged upward of 30 per contest only during his two seasons in Portland – and again this year, the first time he’s been allotted more than 14 shots per game. —Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 18 Dec. 2024

Watch on Deadline The court has allotted two hours to oral arguments, with opening briefs due on Dec. 27 and reply briefs due on Jan. 3. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024

Biden also showed support for the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which allotted $26.38 billion to the Middle Eastern ally. —Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Dec. 2024

The company is allotting five years for the shift to give customers and the Federal Communications Commissions proper notice, an AT&T representative told USA TODAY. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 10 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

allot

verb

al·​lot ə-ˈlät 

allotted; allotting

: to assign as a share or portion

allot 10 minutes for the speech