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

• 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

As for who may be in the mix to play the iconic martini-drinking spy, guesses abound as fans await an official casting announcement. —Jack Smart, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Fox is pulling out all the stops for the first season of Celebrity Weakest Link, promising plenty of exciting TV reunions and iconic pairings abound throughout the competition series. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025

Sight gags and wordplay abounded: There’s an underwater news channel called MSNBSea and a golden-retriever boyfriend who’s a literal golden retriever. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2025

Flora and fauna abound and interacting with all of it, there’s Irakli, the type of guy who keeps kibble in the car to feed passing mutts, and who delays his departure from one village to say goodbye to a donkey. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Aug. 2025

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