an awful lot
idiom
informal
1
: a large amount
They lost an awful lot of money.
She does an awful lot of talking.
2
: very much
I like him an awful lot.
Examples of an awful lot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That might sound like an awful lot to put on the shoulders of a teenager, and borderline unfair in a world where too much media hype often sparks backlash.
—
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
If the whole thing is about moving fast with your eye strictly on efficiency, then an awful lot of people are going to get really hurt.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Medicine has improved an awful lot, but with children, there’s a sense that your heart is living outside your body.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Planting marigolds on the perimeter of your garden beds adds some level of protection, but not an awful lot.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for an awful lot
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.
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
If the whole thing is about moving fast with your eye strictly on efficiency, then an awful lot of people are going to get really hurt.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Medicine has improved an awful lot, but with children, there’s a sense that your heart is living outside your body.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Planting marigolds on the perimeter of your garden beds adds some level of protection, but not an awful lot.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for an awful lot
Cite this Entry
“An awful lot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/an%20awful%20lot. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
