a lot

adverb

1
: to a considerable degree or extent : much, lots
This is a lot nicer.
I liked it a lot. [=very much]
2
: often, frequently
Do you travel a lot?

Examples of a lot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Shepperton Studios in the U.K. became the base for a lot of Riley’s sets, but exteriors were also shot in London, New York, Florida and Spain. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024 Both Missouri football standouts were receiving a lot of love, albeit to different degrees. Calum McAndrew, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024 Supermarket psychology Food packaging does a lot of different things, Zwanka says. Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 While on the more expensive side, there’s a lot to like about the Pottery Barn Kids’ Glenview dollhouse besides its realistic and attractive style. Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024 There was a lot of drama in the AI startup world this week Mostaque’s departure comes just days after Forbes reported that Stability AI was in trouble after other key developers resigned. Tom Warren, The Verge, 23 Mar. 2024 Because of its rarity, there has not been a lot of research done, and the prognosis is grim. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Then Ashley started to get really sick, vomiting a lot. Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024 If schools lose a lot of students, there will also be a drop in the number of teachers. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a lot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of a lot was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near a lot

Cite this Entry

“A lot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20lot. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on a lot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!