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
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
Island of the Blue Dolphins
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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.
There is no public official data on racial inequality in Zambia, but anecdotes and discussions on the topic abound on social media.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
While business courses abound in college, personal-finance ones do not.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
Spanish restaurants, cafes and cultural centers abound throughout Mexico, a major tourist destination for Spaniards — just as many Mexicans visit Spain.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026
In Taipei, theories abound about the flight lull.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Skunks abound, and foxes and coyotes and wolves and weasels—all predators.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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.
