Abound Meaning
/əˈbaʊnd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo be full to overflowing; to bristle.
verbTo be wealthy.
Sentence Examples
The fields abound in wild flowers.
Game birds abound in the area.
Treasure chests abound in the dungeon, but so do horrible monsters.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the spring, wildflowers ____ in the meadow after the rains come.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The local rivers ____ with many types of freshwater fish.
Word Origin & History
* First attested around 1325. * From Middle English abounden, abounde, from Old French abonder, abunder, from Latin abundāre (“overflow”), which comes from ab (“from, down from”) + undō (“surge, swell, rise in waves, move in waves”), from unda (“wave”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Moreouer, the Lawe entred, that the offence might abound: but where sinne abounded, grace did much more abound."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 5:20:
"One end of the east-west building is wet, the other windy, and at present there is smoke abounding, too; but these distressing yard elements can be completely excluded at each end by full-width folding doors [...]."
— 1960 December, “New G.E. Line diesel loco maintenance depot at Stratford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 766:
"Evidence for cannibalism abounds - even if circumstantial - both from the modern world and throughout history, but academic anthropology has found itself in a funk of denial."
— 2000 September 7, Henry Gee, “Eating people - is it bad taste?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 May 2014:
"I could plainly diſcover from whence one Family derives a long Chin; why a ſecond hath abounded with Knaves for two Generations, and Fools for two more; why a third happened to be crack-brained, and a fourth to be Sharpers."
— 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “A Further Account of Glubbdubdrib. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 108:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
In the spring, wildflowers ____ in the meadow after the rains come.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The local rivers ____ with many types of freshwater fish.