abound

[uh-bound]

verb (used without object)

1. to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers.

   a stream in which trout abound.

2. to be rich or well supplied (usually followed byin ).

   The region abounds in coal.

3. to be filled; teem (usually followed bywith ).

   The ship abounds with rats.

abound

/ əˈbaʊnd /

verb

1. to exist or occur in abundance; be plentiful

   a swamp in which snakes abound

2. to be plentifully supplied (with); teem (with)

   the gardens abound with flowers

   the fields abound in corn

Other Word Forms

• aboundingly adverb
• overabound verb (used without object)
• well-abounding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abound¹

1325–75; Middle English abounden < Latin abundāre to overflow, equivalent to ab- ab- + undāre to move in waves; undulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of abound¹

C14: via Old French from Latin abundāre to overflow, from undāre to flow, from unda wave

Example Sentences

An exception is a small Loewe bucket bag inspired by Josef’s early glass assemblage experiments when he was a Bauhaus student, which abounds with glass bobbles and haptic surprise.

From Los Angeles Times

And though they’ve been slightly better since, questions about the lineup abound.

From Los Angeles Times

And though they’ve been slightly better in the five weeks since, questions about their supposed juggernaut lineup still abound.

From Los Angeles Times

Secrets abound among the characters whose brief encounter at a New York emergency room sets action across decades in motion: Ivan and Eddie, as well as Cara and Nina, are only tangentially connected.

From Los Angeles Times

Examples of backlash abound, from California to New York and even in red states like Florida and Wyoming.

From Salon

Related Words

• flourish 
• proliferate 
• thrive