abound

verb

ə-ˈbau̇nd How to pronounce abound (audio)
abounded; abounding; abounds
Synonyms of abound

intransitive verb

1
: to be present in large numbers or in great quantity : to be prevalent
a business in which opportunities abound
errors and inconsistencies abound
2
: to be copiously supplied
—used with in or with
… life abounded in mysteries …—Norman Mailer
institutions abound with evidence of his success—Johns Hopkins Magazine

Synonyms of abound

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of abound in a Sentence

They live in a region where oil abounds. a city that abounds with art museums and private galleries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, raised its growth forecast, a rare bright spot as regional economic worries abound. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Artistic details abound, such as the bespoke Córdoban leather headboards topping the oversized beds encased in exquisite linen. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Reddit threads abound with fertility playlist suggestions and Bareilles’ addition to the canon doesn’t go unnoticed. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 With its boom years in the rearview mirror, signs already abound that China is facing financial constraints, as well. — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abound

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abounden, borrowed from Anglo-French abunder, borrowed from Latin abundāre "to overflow, be full, be plentifully supplied (with)," from ab- ab- + undāre "to rise in waves, surge, flood," verbal derivative of unda "wave" — more at water entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abound was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing abound

Rhymes for abound

See All Rhymes for abound

Browse Nearby Words

abought
abound
abounding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abound. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

abound

verb
ə-ˈbau̇nd How to pronounce abound (audio)
1
: to be present in large numbers or in great quantity
wildlife abounds
2
: to be filled or abundantly supplied
a stream abounding in fish
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All