copious

[koh-pee-uhs]

adjective

1. large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful.

   copious amounts of food.

   Synonyms: bountiful
   Antonyms: scarce, scanty

2. having or yielding an abundant supply.

   a copious larder;

   a copious harvest.

3. exhibiting abundance or fullness, as of thoughts or words.

   Antonyms: meager

copious

/ ˈkəʊpɪəs /

adjective

1. abundant; extensive in quantity

2. having or providing an abundant supply

3. full of words, ideas, etc; profuse

Other Word Forms

• copiousness noun
• copiously adverb
• copiosity noun
• overcopious adjective
• overcopiously adverb
• overcopiousness noun
• uncopious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of copious¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin cōpiōsus “plentiful, rich,” from cōpi(a) “wealth” (from co- co- + op(s) “plenty, power, support” + -ia -ia ) + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of copious¹

C14: from Latin cōpiōsus well supplied, from cōpia abundance, from ops wealth

Synonym Study

See ample.

Example Sentences

During our relationship, he had intense mood swings but never sought treatment other than copious amounts of Miller High Life, which — get this — made things worse.

From Los Angeles Times

James Madison jotted copious notes during the Philadelphia convention, now considered proof of the framers’ design.

From Los Angeles Times

He discovered American culture through copious hours of TV, with “The Simpsons” and comedian Conan O’Brien becoming key influences on his sensibilities.

From Los Angeles Times

"Those were my hedonistic years - I ate as much steak as I wanted and drank copious amounts of wine," he said.

From BBC

They drink copious amounts of liquor on friend trips to the Jersey shore, brown out and start calling their good friend’s brutalist bowling alley club a terrible idea.

From Salon

Related Words

• ample 
• extensive