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 mysteriesNorman Mailer
institutions abound with evidence of his successJohns Hopkins Magazine

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 Wildlife abounds along the rail line, which has a few yards of greenery on each side for most of its 20-mile length. Juliette Guéron-Gabrielle, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 Angel wings were abound — but that wasn’t the only thing that caught our attention. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023 The problems abound with age in the Northeast and land issues most everywhere. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 7 Sep. 2023 Cowboy hats abound: in a self-portrait of the artist wearing nothing but white briefs and in a still life hanging above a wardrobe beside a silhouetted portrait of a gay male couple. Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023 Parks, natural spaces, historic sites, museums, galleries, and ethnic neighborhoods abound. Robert Higgs, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2023 Custom woodwork abounds and enormous windows fill the home with light. Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2023 Safety and sensitivity issues abound – along with demands, subject to change, from local officials trying to do their own jobs well. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Aug. 2023 Fish Fatty fish like salmon abounds with fat-soluble vitamins and essential fats that support brain development, eye health, and the immune system. Stephanie Karpinske, Parents, 17 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near abound

Cite this Entry

“Abound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abound. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

abound

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on abound

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