abound
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers.
a stream in which trout abound.
-
to be rich or well supplied (usually followed byin ).
The region abounds in coal.
-
to be filled; teem (usually followed bywith ).
The ship abounds with rats.
verb
-
to exist or occur in abundance; be plentiful
a swamp in which snakes abound
-
to be plentifully supplied (with); teem (with)
the gardens abound with flowers
the fields abound in corn
Other Word Forms
- aboundingly adverb
- overabound verb (used without object)
- well-abounding adjective
Etymology
Origin of abound
1325–75; Middle English abounden < Latin abundāre to overflow, equivalent to ab- ab- + undāre to move in waves; undulate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As for the rest of the world, shame and hypocrisy abound.
From Salon
Conflagrations abound—in one, a pair of rabbits anxiously scamper across a road to outrun the flames.
Myth and metaphor still abound, but they’re more rooted in the everyday reality of a troubled parcel of the country.
From Los Angeles Times
Some houses in The Kilns remain unsold, and rumours abound that a few are being used as second homes despite the legal restriction.
From BBC
Rumours abound that Pope Leo XIV will attend, but the Vatican is yet to confirm a visit to Spain.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
