Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

plentiful

[plen-ti-fuhl]
See more synonyms for plentiful on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. existing in great plenty: Coal was plentiful, and therefore cheap, in that region.
  2. yielding abundantly: a plentiful source of inspiration.
Show More

Origin of plentiful

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at plenty, -ful
Related formsplen·ti·ful·ly, adverbplen·ti·ful·ness, nouno·ver·plen·ti·ful, adjectiveo·ver·plen·ti·ful·ly, adverbo·ver·plen·ti·ful·ness, nounqua·si-plen·ti·ful, adjectivequa·si-plen·ti·ful·ly, adverbun·plen·ti·ful, adjectiveun·plen·ti·ful·ly, adverb
Can be confusedplanetary plenary plentiful plenitude

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
2. fruitful, bounteous, productive; luxuriant.

Synonym study

1. Plentiful, ample, abundant, bountiful describe a more than adequate supply of something. Plentiful suggests an over-adequate quantity: a plentiful supply. Ample suggests a more than adequate quality as well: to give ample praise. Abundant implies a greater degree of plenty, and bountiful a still more ample quality as well: an abundant, even a bountiful, harvest.

Antonyms

1. sparse, scanty. 2. barren, fruitless, sterile.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

generousproductivefertileprolificamplesufficientbountifulunlimitedaboundingappreciablechock-fullcompetentcompletecopiousenoughexcessiveextravagantexuberantflowingflush

Examples from the Web for plentiful

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • God knows, he'll find that ain't so plentiful, but he's got the right idea.

    Dust

    Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

  • And after that a plentiful application of soothing liniment.

    The Rock of Chickamauga

    Joseph A. Altsheler

  • He emptied the cistern, and cleansed it, with plentiful washings.

    Tiverton Tales

    Alice Brown

  • Her hair was soft and plentiful, and her hands were fine, strong, and sensitive.

    The Village Watch-Tower

    (AKA Kate Douglas Riggs) Kate Douglas Wiggin

  • There's been ruunin' back and forrad, an' a plentiful deal of language used.

British Dictionary definitions for plentiful

plentiful

adjective
  1. ample; abundant
  2. having or yielding an abundancea plentiful year
Show More
Derived Formsplentifully, adverbplentifulness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plentiful

adj.

late 15c., from plenty + -ful. Related: Plentifully.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper