abundance
Americannoun
-
an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply.
an abundance of grain.
- Synonyms:
- plenteousness, copiousness
- Antonyms:
- scarcity
-
overflowing fullness.
abundance of the heart.
- Synonyms:
- generosity
-
affluence; wealth.
the enjoyment of abundance.
-
Physics, Chemistry. the number of atoms of one isotope of an element divided by the total number of atoms in a mixture of the isotopes.
noun
-
a copious supply; great amount
-
fullness or benevolence
from the abundance of my heart
-
degree of plentifulness
-
chem the extent to which an element or ion occurs in the earth's crust or some other specified environment: often expressed in parts per million or as a percentage
-
physics the ratio of the number of atoms of a specific isotope in a mixture of isotopes of an element to the total number of atoms present: often expressed as a percentage
the abundance of neon-22 in natural neon is 8.82 per cent
-
Also called: abondance. a call in solo whist undertaking to make nine tricks
-
affluence
Synonym Usage
See plenty.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abundance
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin abundantia. See abundant, -ance
Explanation
To have an abundance of something is to have more than you need. It's often used to describe positive qualities, such as "an abundance of love." Abundance is the opposite of scarcity. An abundance of wealth is a ton of cash. An abundance of friends sounds like a good thing, but it can get overwhelming when it comes to scheduling time to hang out or buying gifts. This noun comes to us from the mid-14th century French, via the Latin abundantia, meaning "fullness, plenty."
Vocabulary lists containing abundance
A Long Walk to Water
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
30 GRE Words Beginning with "A"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Lyndon B. Johnson on "The Great Society" (1964)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The captain of the Zhong Cheng Chang Ling said the ship management company told him to contact the Houthis out of an abundance of caution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"Why would you not change the team? We have an abundance of games," he replied.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
A country house and farming estate in one of England's driest and most nature-depleted areas has an "abundance" of wildlife with more than 5,000 species recorded, the National Trust has said.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Formed in 2012, it is intended to “protect the diversity and abundance of marine life, the habitats they depend on and the integrity of marine ecosystems,” according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
It’s nothing compared to the guns the people here have, in all their abundance, but in the city, I know it’s valuable.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
