abounding

IPA/əˈbaʊnd/
KK[əbˈaʊndɪŋ]IPA/əˈbaʊnd/

abounding — verb

  • aboundingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • aboundings3rd person singular
  • aboundinging-ing form
  • aboundingedpast simple

1. to be present in many examples or in a great amount in a place or situation

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to be present in many examples or in a great amount in a place or situation

Example

Small frogs were abounding beside the rice fields after the storm.

pattern: be abounding beside + place

Fresh rumors were abounding online after the actor missed the premiere.

pattern: be abounding online after + event

Common collocations
  • abounding beside the rice fields
  • abounding online
  • abounding near campus
  • abounding by the lake
  • abounding around the plaza
Synonyms
  • teeming

    suggests a place or situation is full of active life or movement

  • swarming

    often used for insects or crowds and can sound more negative

Antonyms
  • scarce

    describes something present only in small numbers

  • hard to find

    neutral phrase for something that is not widely available

Grammar Patterns

be abounding near + place

be abounding around + place

be abounding online after + event

Usage Note

Mostly seen as the -ing form of 'abound' in formal or literary English. The subject names the things that are numerous, while the place or situation usually comes after near, around, by, or online.

Common Mistakes

Cheap taxis were abounding the station.
Cheap taxis were abounding around the station.
this sense is intransitive, so it needs a place phrase instead of a direct object.
One taxi was abounding outside the hotel.
Taxis were abounding outside the hotel.
use this sense when many examples of something are present, not just one.

abounding — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Abounding is formal and slightly literary. Use it when a place, text, or situation has a lot of something, especially with in or with. Rich in is more common for qualities or substances such as minerals or detail. Filled with is the everyday choice and can describe almost any container or situation. Teeming is closer to the verb sense because it often suggests living things or busy movement rather than a static supply.

abounding ↗rich infilled with ↗teeming ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • abounding in detail
  • abounding with fresh herbs
  • abounding around the plaza
  • a valley abounding in wildflowers

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from abound + -ing. The base verb comes from Latin abundare, meaning 'to overflow'.

First known use

1560

1560, in the meaning defined above