plenty
Americannoun
plural
plenties-
a full or abundant supply or amount.
There is plenty of time.
-
the state or quality of being plentiful; abundance.
resources in plenty.
- Synonyms:
- affluence, luxuriance, copiousness, plenteousness
-
an abundance, as of goods or luxuries, or a time of such abundance.
the plenty of a rich harvest; the plenty that comes with peace.
adjective
-
existing in ample quantity or number; plentiful; abundant.
Food is never too plenty in the area.
-
more than sufficient; ample.
That helping is plenty for me.
adverb
noun
-
(often foll by of) a great number, amount, or quantity; lots
plenty of time
there are plenty of cars on display here
-
generous or ample supplies of wealth, produce, or resources
the age of plenty
-
existing in abundance
food in plenty
determiner
adverb
-
not_standard (intensifier)
he was plenty mad
-
informal more than adequately; abundantly
the water's plenty hot enough
noun
Usage
The construction plenty of is standard in all varieties of speech and writing: plenty of room in the shed. The use of plenty preceding a noun, without an intervening of, first appeared in the late 19th century: plenty room in the shed. It occurs today chiefly in informal speech. As an adverb, a use first recorded in the mid-19th century, plenty is also informal and is found chiefly in speech or written representations of speech.
Related Words
Plenty, abundance, profusion refer to a large quantity or supply. Plenty suggests a supply that is fully adequate to any demands: plenty of money. Abundance implies a great plenty, an ample and generous oversupply: an abundance of rain. Profusion applies to such a lavish and excessive abundance as often suggests extravagance or prodigality: luxuries in great profusion.
Other Word Forms
- overplenty noun
Etymology
Origin of plenty
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English plente, from Old French; replacing Middle English plenteth, from Old French plented, plentet, from Latin plēnitāt- (stem of plēnitās ) “fullness.” See plenum, -ity
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.
If you’re a California homeowner and you’ve been feeling chilly this winter, there are plenty of reasons to go get a heat pump.
From Los Angeles Times
There’s a new team with plenty of quality young players to get excited about in high school basketball.
From Los Angeles Times
There is a school of thought among some fans that a good season is one where your team still has plenty to play for come April.
From BBC
Newcastle still have plenty to look forward to, not least a mouth-watering last-16 tie against Barcelona in the Champions League.
From BBC
Keeping a viewing audience engaged in a world awash in YouTube and TikTok videos will provide Netflix plenty of drama on its own.
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.
