Meaning & use
abounded
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“abounded” is a form of “abound”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbintransitive
Existed or occurred in large numbers; was very plentiful in a place or situation.
Grammar: Past tense of abound; still usually followed by in or with: the river abounded with fish.
Patterns
- abounded with something
- abounded in something
The forest abounded with deer long before the town was built.
Legends about the castle abounded in the village.
Cheap houses for workers abounded in the industrial districts.
Word forms
| third person singular | abounds |
|---|---|
| past tense | abounded |
| past participle | abounded |
| -ing form | abounding |
Common combinations
- abounded with life
- The coral reef abounded with life.
- abounded in colour
- The garden abounded in colour every spring.
- stories abounded
- Stories of his adventures abounded after he returned.
Synonyms and how they differ
- teemed
- Teemed suggests lively, moving fullness; abounded is more neutral and often literary.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: abounded or abundant?
abounded vs abundant
Abounded is the past verb form; abundant is the adjective.
Practice
Which sentence uses the past form correctly?
Choose one answer.
The past tense still takes with or in: abounded with wildflowers. Option 3 uses the adjective with no verb, and option 4 wrongly uses the present form with a past time.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abounded”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.