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

Drama abounds, and our experts have weighed in with their picks on every game. — J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Theories abound, blaming dating apps, antidepressants, and inflation; the #MeToo movement, the loneliness epidemic, and the growing partisan divide between American men and women. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

Thorny ethical issues also abound, including who gets to choose when and how solar geoengineering is deployed, who pays for it and what happens if some countries benefit while others are harmed. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

Kids’ activities abound, of course, including a scavenger hunt and outdoor Disney movie nights. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 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