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I've left ample stores of food and water for you.

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: generous or more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity

: generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for ample

commodious stresses roominess and comfortableness.

capacious stresses the ability to hold, contain, or retain more than the average.

ample implies having a greater size, expanse, or amount than that deemed adequate.

ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

Example Sentences

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ample.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, "abundant," borrowed from Anglo-French, "wide, extensive, great," going back to Latin amplus "more than adequate in size or extent, great, having wide scope (of the mind or other abstract entities)," of uncertain origin

Note: M. de Vaan ( Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008) sees amplus going back to *am-lo-, a derivative of a verb base *am- going back to Indo-European "take hold of" (see amateur). Semantically this hypothesis works well, though it requires that the more likely form *am-a-lo- would have undergone early syncope. The word ampla, supposedly meaning "handle," would be corroboration; however, attestations for ampla are post-classical, excepting an apparent metaphorical employment in the sense "opportunity" by Cicero.

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

The first known use of ample was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near ample

Cite this Entry

"Ample." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ample. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

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generous or more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity : generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need Choose the Right Synonym for ample commodious stresses roominess and comfortableness. capacious stresses the ability to hold, contain, or retain more than the average. ample implies having a greater size, expanse, or amount than that deemed adequate.

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the students were stranded for hours without food or drink

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stranded definition: 1. unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money: 2.... Learn more.

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The strong dark eyebrows give his face an oodly menacing look.

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1. making you think that someone is going to do something bad: 2. making you…

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the dog was vicious and likely to bite

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Vicious - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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Vicious is an adjective that means intentionally harmful or nasty. If you spread vicious rumors about a person, you’re telling people things that will hurt her feelings or ruin her reputation. Cut it out!

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they told an incoherent story about losing their key

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The children were all clamouring for attention.

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Clamor Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

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CLAMOR meaning: 1 : a loud continuous noise (such as the noise made when many people are talking or shouting); 2 : a loud or strong demand for something by many people