What does abundantly mean?
Abundantly is an adverb meaning in large quantities or plentifully. It describes situations where something exists or is provided in more than sufficient amounts — resources may be abundantly available, a table abundantly laden with food, or a writer abundantly rewarded for their efforts. The word also carries a second, emphatic sense: it can mean clearly or unmistakably, most famously in the phrase 'abundantly clear', which signals that something is beyond doubt. Derived from the Latin abundare, meaning 'to overflow', abundantly entered English through Old French and has long connoted generosity, richness, and surplus. Its tone is somewhat formal, making it a staple of academic prose, journalism, and polished speech rather than casual conversation. Useful precisely because it intensifies without exaggerating, abundantly lets speakers affirm plenty — of quantity or of certainty — with quiet authority.
In large quantities; plentifully.
"Wildflowers grew abundantly across the meadow."
The dominant sense in everyday usage.
Clearly or unmistakably; thoroughly.
"His disappointment was abundantly obvious to everyone in the room."
Almost always used with adjectives such as 'clear', 'evident', or 'obvious'.
When scientists say a result is 'abundantly clear', they're borrowing one of English's oldest Latin imports — a word whose root literally means 'to overflow'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abundantly
Abundantly derives from the Latin verb abundare, meaning 'to overflow', formed from ab- ('from') plus undare ('to surge like a wave'), itself related to unda, 'wave'. The word passed into English via Old French abondant during the Middle English period, with the adverb form established by the early modern era. It shares this Latin root with abundance, abound, and abundant, and more distantly with redundant, which carries the same underlying image of overflowing.
Related word forms
How abundantly is actually used
Slightly formal in register but common in both written and spoken English. The second sense ('abundantly clear') is especially frequent in formal writing and speech, where it adds emphasis to statements about evidence or understanding.
Easily confused with abundantly
'Abundant' is an adjective describing something that exists in large quantities, while 'abundantly' is the adverb form describing how something is done or how evident something is.