abound

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verb \ ə-ˈbau̇nd \

Definition 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

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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 of abound from the Web

New York City practically abounds in presidential dwellings.

— andy newman, New York Times, "In Search of Donald Trump at His Boyhood Home," 21 Aug. 2017
State parks abound just beyond the city limits to provide a more authentic outdoor experience.

— andrew moseman, Popular Mechanics, "I Tried to Run 13.1 Miles Up and Down a Mountain at 8,000 Feet," 15 Aug. 2017
Theories abound, but in short, we are reminded of our mortality, invoking a sort of existential dread.

— luke o'neil, Esquire, "I Confronted Death in a Wax Museum," 8 Aug. 2017
With summer plans still abounding, several new businesses in Naperville have opened or soon will be.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Bluemercury to move into old Starbucks, luxury salon planned for Water Street," 3 Aug. 2017
Heidi Szrom added that opportunities abound as to the type of materials that can be used in and for the containers.

— sue ellen ross, Post-Tribune, "Munster garden in spotlight for calming, other benefits," 26 July 2017
So curves abound at our place and in our plantings.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "Mother Nature isn’t a fan of straight lines, and we shouldn’t be either," 19 July 2017
KC Fringe Festival Thursday, July 20, through July 30 at multiple venues Offbeat artists and performances will abound at the 13th annual event for experimental theater and much more.

— dan kelly, kansascity, "KC events July 20-26: Jim Gaffigan, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ D.L. Hughley, Big Picnic," 18 July 2017
From bounce houses to bands, options for fun abounded at Franklin Park's 26th annual Street Dance.

— rachel k. hindery, chicagotribune.com, "Dancing in the street: Tradition continues in Franklin Park," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abound

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 ¹water

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First Known Use: 14th century

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abound Synonyms

Synonyms

brim, bristle, bulge, burst, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem

Near Antonyms

lack, need, want

ABOUND Defined for Kids

abound

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verb \ ə-ˈbau̇nd \

Definition of abound for Students

abounded; abounding

1 :to be plentiful :teem

Salmon abound in the river.

2 :to be fully supplied

The book abounds with pictures.

Word Root of abound

The Latin word unda, meaning “wave,” gives us the root und. Words from the Latin unda have something to do with waves. To undulate is to move up and down like a wave. To inundate is to cover with a flood of waves. To surround, or encircle on all sides, is to enclose as if by waves. To abound is to be plentiful, like waves in the ocean.

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