Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense allots, present participle allotting, past tense, past participle allotted
verb [usually passive]
If something is allottedto someone, it is given to them as their share.
The seats are allotted to the candidates who have won the most votes. [beVERB-ed + to]
We were allotted half an hour to address the committee. [beVERB-ed noun]
Synonyms: assign, allocate, designate, set aside More Synonyms of allot
allot in British English
(əˈlɒt)
verbWord forms: -lots, -lotting or -lotted(transitive)
1.
to assign or distribute (shares, etc)
2.
to designate for a particular purpose
money was allotted to cover expenses
3. (foll by to)
apportion
we allotted two hours to the case
Word origin
C16: from Old French aloter, from lot portion, lot
allot in American English
(əˈlɑt)
verb transitiveWord forms: alˈlotted or alˈlotting
1.
to distribute by lot or in arbitrary shares; apportion
2.
to give or assign as one's share
each speaker is allotted five minutes
SYNONYMY NOTE: allot, assign both imply the giving of a share or portion with no indication of uniform distribution,, assign having the extra connotation of authoritativeness [I was assigned the task of allotting the seats]; apportion connotes the just, proportionate, often uniform distribution of a fixed number ofportions; , allocate usually implies the allowance of a fixed amount for a specific purpose [to allocate $50 for books]
Word origin
OFr aloter < a-, to + loter < lot, lot, of Gmc orig.: see lot
Examples of 'allot' in a sentence
allot
We are only ten minutes into the allotted hour but the tone is set.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You must be careful not to get too carried away and spend more than your fifteen allotted minutes.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
Is our allotted hour already over?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Our allotted hour has long since elapsed, but she is in no hurry to go.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your allotted hour passes, you take the drug and by the next day you will test negative.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We were allotted one hour to attend to these patients and often two nurses would visit if the patient was particularly heavy or difficult to move.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So the gaps mean that other trainees have to cover, which reduces training time and takes them over their allotted hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
When the player lands on a square, he or she has to put the allotted amount of money in the piggy bank.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He has said that about 11,000 homes were under construction and that all of the allotted money would be used by house builders.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I saw no point in staying for the full, allotted hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Almost three quarters of staff claim they are'too busy' to take the allotted hour.
The Sun (2014)
He also decides when the photographer and I will leave, which is an hour after our allotted time.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Under the revised system, athletes can telephone up to one minute before their allotted hour to revise their movements; they can alsosend a text message.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
allot
British English: allot VERB
If something is allotted to someone, it is given to them as their share.
The seats are allotted to the candidates who have won the most votes.