abundance

abundance — noun

1. a situation where there is so much of something that some is extra.

1.nounC1
Definition

a situation where there is so much of something that some is extra.

Example

After spring rain, the garden showed an abundance of white flowers.

an abundance of + [noun]

The market sells fish in abundance during the summer festival.

in abundance after a verb

Common collocations
  • abundance of food
  • abundance of evidence
  • abundance of wildlife
  • abundance of choice
  • in abundance
Synonyms
  • plenty

    more everyday and conversational; often the simplest choice.

  • profusion

    more formal or literary; suggests a rich, overflowing amount.

  • surplus

    extra amount left after needs are met, especially with goods or money.

Antonyms
  • scarcity

    not enough of something is available.

  • shortage

    supply is too low for the need.

Grammar Patterns

an abundance of [noun]

in abundance

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'of' before the thing that is plentiful: 'an abundance of fruit', 'an abundance of choice'. The fixed phrase 'in abundance' often comes after a verb and means 'in large supply'.

Common Mistakes

The farm has abundance apples in summer.
The farm has an abundance of apples in summer.
use 'an abundance of' before the noun.

2. a condition in which someone feels they have plenty in life, whether from money

2.nounC1
Definition

a condition in which someone feels they have plenty in life, whether from money or from good things such as love, happiness, and success.

Example

Elena left the city to build a life of abundance near the sea.

a life of abundance

For the Chens, abundance meant Sunday dinners together, not a bigger house.

abundance meant + value

Common collocations
  • life of abundance
  • live in abundance
  • financial abundance
  • emotional abundance
  • abundance mindset
Synonyms
  • prosperity

    stresses success and well-being, often of a person, family, or country.

  • affluence

    more formal; focuses more strongly on money and material comfort.

  • fullness

    more literary or spiritual; suggests emotional or inner richness.

Antonyms
  • poverty

    lack of money and basic needs.

  • deprivation

    lack of the things needed for a healthy or happy life.

Grammar Patterns

a life of abundance

abundance as [state/value]

Usage Note

Common in self-help, spiritual, and lifestyle writing. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a person's overall state or way of living, not the large amount of one particular thing.

Common Mistakes

She wants abundance life.
She wants a life of abundance.
use 'a life of abundance', not 'abundance' directly before 'life'.
Idioms

in abundance

idiom

Having a very large amount of something.

The garden produced tomatoes in abundance this summer.

Did you find wildflowers in abundance during your hike?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Abundance', 'plenty', 'surplus', and 'profusion' all describe having a lot of something, but they do not feel the same. 'Plenty' is the everyday choice and often sounds practical: if there is plenty of rice or time, you simply have enough. 'Abundance' is slightly more formal and suggests not just enough, but more than enough, often with a positive tone. 'Surplus' is narrower and is common for money, goods, or production left after needs are met. 'Profusion' is the most literary word and paints a rich, overflowing picture, especially with flowers, colours, or decoration. A market can have an abundance of fresh fruit, but a report is more likely to mention a budget surplus.

abundance ↗plenty ↗surplus ↗profusion

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Abundance' came into English from Old French 'abundance', which came from the Latin noun 'abundantia'. That Latin family grew from 'abundare', meaning 'to overflow', and from 'unda', meaning 'wave'. The old image of something overflowing still fits the modern word, which suggests more than enough of something.