a lot

adverb

Synonyms of a lotnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are a lot of balls up in the air, with almost every character dealing with a precarious and delicate situation that could result in disaster. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Chris Elford, who owns a brewery and a cocktail bar downtown, has a lot of regulars who work at Seattle tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 There’s a lot of talk in the agriculture industry these days around Senate Bill 54 — California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2026 There will be a lot to unravel on Raw, but there's still stones left to unturn. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for a lot

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

Rhymes for a lot

See All Rhymes for a lot

Browse Nearby Words

Alosa
a lot
a lot of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A lot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20lot. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on a lot

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for a lot

Nglish: Translation of a lot for Spanish Speakers

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