abound

verb \ ə-ˈbau̇nd \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

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

Public parks and free galleries abound, and the city’s infrastructure makes it officially the most bike-friendly place in the world.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Cities for Expats," 21 Mar. 2018
If such data were made public through judicial decree, free riders would abound and private enterprise would have no incentive to collect data in the future.

— tony hughes, Fortune, "Moody’s Analytics Economist: Why the LinkedIn Data Case Is a Lose-Lose Situation," 16 Mar. 2018
And rumors abound that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, is also investigating the charity.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Complaint alleges Greitens lied about charity donor list on campaign disclosures | The Kansas City Star," 14 Mar. 2018
The problem with which worrywarts like Brooks, Bari Weiss, and Bret Stephens are grappling is not that speech is restricted, or that intolerance abounds.

— jay willis, GQ, "David Brooks Continues His Crusade Against the Scourge of Meanie College Students," 9 Mar. 2018
When wandering Keukenhof, inspirations abound, and there is the clear edict: Do try this at home.

— colleen barry, chicagotribune.com, "Nature shows off during Dutch tulip season," 8 Mar. 2018
Foot access abounds downstream, and boat launches are available on both sides of the dam.

— jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "If you don’t want to travel far to fish, try these five local hotspots | Idaho Statesman," 7 Mar. 2018
So, opportunities abound to get involved with currencies.

— dan weil, WSJ, "The Smart Ways for Fund Investors to Deal With Currency Fluctuations," 4 Mar. 2018
But other first-time nods also abound: Dee Rees is the first black woman to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (also for Mudbound).

— tori latham, The Atlantic, "Your 2018 Oscars Crash Course," 2 Mar. 2018

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, swarm, teem;

Near Antonyms

lack, need, want;

ABOUND Defined for Kids

abound

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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