abound

verb

ə-ˈbau̇nd 

abounded; abounding; abounds

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

• burst
• buzz
• teem
• bulge

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

The discourse got heated, topical Halloween costumes abounded. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

Theories abound as to why Beijing has chosen to ignore the warnings. — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026

Rumors abound as to why Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi has been on indefinite hiatus from his longtime band since May, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing with other artists. — Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026

At the nearby Natural History Museum, California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) abounds, in bloom through October, alongside an array of plants native to Southern California. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing abound

• abound in/with

Rhymes for abound

• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground
• foreground

Kids Definition

abound

verb

ə-ˈbau̇nd 

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