profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən 

prō-

1

: lavish expenditure : extravagance

2

: the quality or state of being profuse

3

: great quantity : lavish display or supply

snow falling in profusion

Did you know?

A profusion is literally a "pouring forth", so a profusion of gifts is a wealth or abundance of gifts. A profusely illustrated book is filled to overflowing with pictures. A bad social error should be followed by profuse apologies, and profound gratitude should be expressed with profuse thanks.

Synonyms

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Examples of profusion in a Sentence

The flowers grow in profusion.

apples grow in profusion in this valley

Recent Examples on the Web

As for literature, who could cope with the profusion of riches on July 18th? —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024

Coal mine safety and overcapacity are two other policy concerns driving coal supply restrictions as Beijing aims to clean up its profusion of smaller, more accident-prone mines. —Michael R. Davidson, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2021

For many locals, the South Bay, with its profusion of Japanese supermarkets and restaurants, has eclipsed Little Tokyo for everyday shopping and eating. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024

In space, which has become part of the commons thanks to the profusion of satellite technology, maintaining openness requires spacecraft to be allowed to operate unhindered. —Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən 

: a plentiful supply : great quantity

lilacs blooming in profusion