a lot
∞
1.0
- idiom
- /ə lɑt/
- That's a lot of food.
- a lot more
- talk a lot
- a lot worse
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Watch on YouTubeEven though technology has changed a lot, tradecraft hasn't.
- Even though technology has changed a lot, tradecraft hasn't.
- I think I could be a lot better still.
- So the mind works a lot like the eyes.
- So Chera, she, she draws a lot on ancient history.
- Once you say that, things make a lot more sense.
- Because they aren't useless, but they aren't used a lot like you.
Examples
-
I realize this is a lot to process.
-
That means a lot coming from you.
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I think I could be a lot better still.
-
But I hope you have a lot of time.
-
We do not have a lot of time.
-
I used to make that mistake a lot when I got started.
-
And, quite frankly, this area has done a lot better than the national average during the recession.
Academic text (2011) -
I just don't need a lot to feel successful.
-
It would mean a lot to Stacy.
-
I enjoyed reading that book a lot because it was so interesting.
Synonyms
855
2.3
To a very great degree
481
1.0
To a large degree or too much
460
1.0
To a great degree
354
2.8
A fairly large amount
175
1.8
Shows that something is done a lot
112
3.1
To a very large degree
107
3.5
To a very large degree
89
4.1
In a way that covers a large area or includes many parts
47
3.5
To a great degree and in an impressive way
25
4.5
To a very high degree
21
4.8
In very large amounts, often more than needed
10
5.4
To a very great degree that you cannot count
Antonyms
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
a + lot
The meaning 'to a very great degree' is directly derivable from combining 'a' (indefinite article) with 'lot' (a large amount): the phrase simply lexicalizes 'a large amount' and is used adverbially. This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents is likely to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
A lot probably comes from the old word lot, which meant a large amount or share. Imagine a big pile of something; you have a lot of it, so a lot now means 'very much'.