The Lottery Vocabulary Note: some of these words have multiple definitions that I did not include in this list

The Lottery
Vocabulary
Note: some of these words have multiple definitions that I did not include in this list (if you’re interested you can find them in the dictionary). I included the definitions for the contexts in which they were used in the short story “The Lottery.” Also, there are a few terms that are slang or dialect-specific. I’ve placed these between ‘’s.


Profusely (adv.)
Definition(s): exhibiting great abundance.


Example(s): The criminal was incredibly nervous in court, and when the judge entered the room, the criminal started sweating profusely.


To gather (v.)
Definition(s): to bring/come together


Example(s): When class ended, all the students gathered their things and got ready to go to lunch.


To assemble (v.)
Definition(s): to bring together (as in a particular place or for a particular purpose)


Example(s): The students assembled in the performance hall for the women’s day event.


Uneasily (adv.)
Definition(s): apprehensively, worriedly.


Example(s): The students who had studied for the exam entered the test room confidently, while the students who hadn’t studied entered the test room uneasily.


To tend to (v.)
Definition(s): to exhibit an inclination or tendency towards


Example(s): No matter what current fashion trends are, I always tend to buy clothes with bright colors and loud patterns.


Boisterous (adj.)
Definition(s):  marked by or expressive of exuberance and high spirits


Example(s): The boisterous teacher jumped up and down in front of the class