ample

[am-puhl]

adjective

ampler, amplest 

1. fully sufficient or more than adequate for the purpose or needs; plentiful; enough: ample time to finish.

   an ample supply of water;

   ample time to finish.

2. of sufficient or abundant measure; liberal; copious.

   an ample reward.

   Synonyms: plenteous, lavish, free, generous
   Antonyms: meager, scanty, scanty

3. of adequate or more than adequate extent, size, or amount; large; spacious; roomy.

   ample storage space.

   Synonyms: vast, great, capacious, extensive

ample

/ ˈæmpəl /

adjective

1. more than sufficient; abundant

   an ample helping

2. large in size, extent, or amount

   of ample proportions

Other Word Forms

• ampleness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ample¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin amplus “wide, large”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ample¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin amplus spacious

Synonym Study

See plentiful. Ample, liberal, copious, profuse describe degrees of abundant provision. Ample implies a plentiful provision: to give ample praise. Liberal implies provision from a generous supply (more than ample but less than copious ): Liberal amounts of food were distributed to people who needed it. Copious implies an apparently inexhaustible and lavish abundance: a copious flow of tears. Profuse implies a still more unrestrained abundance of provision or flow: profuse in his apologies.

Example Sentences

India's stock market has underperformed compared with Asian rivals this year, but a vast retail investor base -- in the world's most populous country -- and ample domestic liquidity still make it a key fundraising hub.

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"We shouldn't be naive. We know full well the ruling system has ample means at its disposal to get results in its favour," Cameroonian political scientist Stephane Akoa told AFP.

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“They had ample opportunity to have these discussions and implement their water tender strategy,” Crawford said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So partaking with ample time between races is allowed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With ample resources, the Dutch fought for and won independence from Habsburg Spain, the world’s most powerful empire, while also helping to launch the Enlightenment and create modern art.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abundant 
• bountiful 
• broad 
• copious 
• expansive 
• extensive 
• generous 
• great 
• plentiful 
• spacious 
• substantial 
• voluminous 
• wide 

When To Use

What does ample mean?

Ample means enough—sufficient or adequate. It can also mean more than enough—plentiful or abundant.It is often used in the context of things like time, room, space, supplies, or resources (such as food and money) to indicate that there is enough or more than enough of what is needed.Sometimes, ample means large in size, extent, or amount, as in It was an ample tract of land. Ample can be used in front of a noun, as in We have ample funds to cover the purchase, or elsewhere in the sentence, as in The payment was ample. The adverb form of ample is amply, meaning sufficiently or abundantly, as in He gave amply to charity. Example: There was no one else there, so there was ample space to spread out.