abound
Americanverb (used without object)
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to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers.
a stream in which trout abound.
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to be rich or well supplied (usually followed byin ).
The region abounds in coal.
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to be filled; teem (usually followed bywith ).
The ship abounds with rats.
verb
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to exist or occur in abundance; be plentiful
a swamp in which snakes abound
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to be plentifully supplied (with); teem (with)
the gardens abound with flowers
the fields abound in corn
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has aboundedperfect 3rd person singular
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have aboundedperfect
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are aboundingprogressive
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is aboundingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am aboundingprogressive 1st person singular
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aboundingparticiple
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have been aboundingperfect progressive
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has been aboundingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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aboundssingular 3rd person
Past
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had aboundedperfect
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were aboundingprogressive plural
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aboundedsimple
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had been aboundingperfect progressive
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was aboundingprogressive singular
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aboundedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of abound
1325–75; Middle English abounden < Latin abundāre to overflow, equivalent to ab- ab- + undāre to move in waves; see undulate
Explanation
When things abound, there are a lot of them. In spring, birds, flowers, rain, and frisbees abound. This word has to do with an abundance of something. In cities like Buffalo, NY, snow abounds. In very hot weather, insects and suntan lotion abound. Dogs are happy at the park when squirrels abound — meaning there are a lot of squirrels. On the moon, rocks abound, but that's about it.
Vocabulary lists containing abound
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Worries about the U.S. fiscal situation abound, while big U.S. companies just reported their strongest earnings growth in years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Opinions abound, as do opinions about those opinions.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
Billboards abound, there are signs outside bars and stores are churning out tournament-themed merchandise.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
And on the streets of L.A. — from Sunset and Rodeo to Melrose and Wilshire — colorful Tory Burch logo sandals abound.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
New Agers make all sorts of existence assertions: that ESP exists, that there have been instances of spoon bending, that spirits abound, that there are aliens among us, etc.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
