plenty

plenty — pronoun

1. An amount or number that is a lot, or is fully sufficient for what is needed.

1.pronounB1
Definition

An amount or number that is a lot, or is fully sufficient for what is needed.

Example

We have plenty of chairs for the school meeting tonight.

plenty of + countable noun

After lunch, Maya still had plenty of energy for basketball practice.

Common collocations
  • plenty of time
  • plenty of food
  • plenty to do
  • have plenty left
Synonyms
  • enough

    meets a need, but does not by itself suggest extra

  • a lot

    stresses a large amount, but not always sufficiency

  • loads

    more informal and often more playful in tone

Antonyms
  • not enough

    shows that the amount does not meet the need

  • little

    stresses a small amount

Grammar Patterns

plenty of + noun

have + plenty

there is / are plenty to + verb

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'of' before a noun, or used alone when the noun is understood. Distinguish from noun sense 1 STATE OF ABUNDANCE, which names a prosperous condition rather than a practical amount in one situation.

Common Mistakes

We have plenty chairs for the class.
We have plenty of chairs for the class.
use 'of' before a noun.

plenty — adverb

plenty — noun

plenty — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/1

Plenty is stronger than enough. If you have enough chairs, the need is met; if you have plenty, you have extra and do not need to worry. A lot also means a large amount, but it does not always suggest that the amount is sufficient for a purpose. Loads is more informal and often sounds conversational or playful. Abundance is a noun for a very rich supply and sounds more formal or literary than plenty. In everyday speech, plenty is especially common before 'of' plus a noun: 'plenty of time' and 'plenty of food'. Compare: 'We have enough water for dinner, but plenty of water for the whole trip.'

enough ↗a lotloadsabundance ↗

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Plenty came into Middle English from Anglo-French plenté, and that form goes back to Latin plenitas, from plenus, meaning 'full'. The basic idea is fullness, which explains why plenty developed the meaning of having enough and often more than enough.