ample

1 of 2

adjective

am·​ple ˈam-pəl 

ampler ˈam-p(ə-)lər  ; amplest ˈam-p(ə-)ləst 

1

: generous or more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity

There was room for an ample garden.

2

: generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need

They had ample money for the trip.

3

: buxom, portly

an ample figure

ampleness

ˈam-pəl-nəs 

noun

amply

ˈam-plē 

adverb

ampleness

2 of 2

noun

am·​ple·​ness ˈam-pəl-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being ample

Synonyms of ample

Adjective

• plenty
• plentiful
• generous

Choose the Right Synonym for ample

spacious, commodious, capacious, ample mean larger in extent or capacity than the average.

spacious implies great length and breadth.

a spacious front lawn

commodious stresses roominess and comfortableness.

a commodious and airy penthouse apartment

capacious stresses the ability to hold, contain, or retain more than the average.

a capacious suitcase

ample implies having a greater size, expanse, or amount than that deemed adequate.

ample closet space

plentiful, ample, abundant, copious mean more than sufficient without being excessive.

plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

Examples of ample in a Sentence

Adjective

They had ample money for the trip.

The police found ample evidence of wrongdoing.

There is ample parking at the stadium.

You will have ample opportunity to finish the test.

The light in the room is more than ample.

There was room for an ample garden.

an ample serving of pie

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The skylit living room provides ample wall space for hanging art and also features a circular bar with a row of stools. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026

Their 12-hour work days, facilitated by a sun that never sets, gave them ample time to marvel at the fact that Cassiope and Pedicularis exist here at all. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

The room also had ample cabinets and a nice window that offered good light, important for a laundry room. — Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026

Your canal visit will last a couple of hours, leaving you ample time to get back to your room to relax and freshen up before dinner. — Demarco Williams, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, "abundant," borrowed from Anglo-French, "wide, extensive, great," going back to Latin amplus "more than adequate in size or extent, great, having wide scope (of the mind or other abstract entities)," of uncertain origin

Note: M. de Vaan (Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008) sees amplus going back to *am-lo-, a derivative of a verb base *am- going back to Indo-European *h₂emh₃- "take hold of" (see amateur). Semantically this hypothesis works well, though it requires that the more likely form *am-a-lo- would have undergone early syncope. The word ampla, supposedly meaning "handle," would be corroboration; however, attestations for ampla are post-classical, excepting an apparent metaphorical employment in the sense "opportunity" by Cicero.

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1566, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ample

• counterexample
• example
• subsample
• hippocampal
• sample
• trample

Kids Definition

ample

adjective

am·​ple ˈam-pəl 

ampler -p(ə-)lər  ; amplest -p(ə-)ləst 

1

: generous in size, scope, or capacity : copious

ample room for a garden

2

: enough to satisfy a need

ample money for the trip

ampleness noun

amply

-plē 

adverb