plentiful

[ plen-ti-fuhl ]

adjective

1. existing in great plenty:

   Coal was plentiful, and therefore cheap, in that region.

   Antonyms: scanty, sparse

2. yielding abundantly:

   a plentiful source of inspiration.

   Synonyms: luxuriant, productive, bounteous, fruitful

   Antonyms: sterile, fruitless, barren

plentiful

/ ˈplɛntɪfʊl /

adjective

1. ample; abundant
2. having or yielding an abundance

   a plentiful year

Derived Forms

• ˈplentifully, adverb
• ˈplentifulness, noun

Other Words From

• plenti·ful·ly adverb
• plenti·ful·ness noun
• over·plenti·ful adjective
• over·plenti·ful·ly adverb
• over·plenti·ful·ness noun
• quasi-plenti·ful adjective
• quasi-plenti·ful·ly adverb
• un·plenti·ful adjective
• un·plenti·ful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plentiful¹

A late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; plenty, -ful

Synonym Study

Plentiful, ample, abundant, bountiful describe a more than adequate supply of something. Plentiful suggests an over-adequate quantity: a plentiful supply. Ample suggests a more than adequate quality as well: to give ample praise. Abundant implies a greater degree of plenty, and bountiful a still more ample quality as well: an abundant, even a bountiful, harvest.

Example Sentences

The fossils represent the earliest documented appearance of a group of animals that today are the most plentiful on Earth, the researchers report this week in Current Biology.

From Science Magazine

On Saturday though, the blemishes were obvious and plentiful - and this autumn they seem to be setting in, rather than shifting.

From BBC

That was likely an advantage 100 or more years ago when food was less plentiful – driving people to consume calories when they are available, because tomorrow there may be none.

From BBC

Power demand for computing is growing so intense that it threatens to strain the nation’s electrical grid, sending users to remote locations where power is plentiful and preferably cheap.

From Los Angeles Times

And unlike last year, the new shots have arrived on time and are plentiful.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ample
• bountiful
• fertile
• generous
• productive
• prolific
• sufficient
• unlimited