Abundance means having more than enough of something, often much more than you need. When a garden produces an abundance of tomatoes, there are so many that you end up giving bags of them to neighbors. When a library has an abundance of books on dinosaurs, you'll find shelves packed with choices.

The word suggests plenty, even overflowing plenty. Think about the difference between having some apples and having an abundance of apples: one means you have enough to eat, the other means you have baskets full, more than you could finish before they spoil.

You can have an abundance of physical things like food or money, but also of non-physical things. A classroom might have an abundance of creative ideas during brainstorming. A friendship might offer an abundance of laughter and good memories. Some people demonstrate an abundance of patience when teaching something difficult.

The opposite of abundance is scarcity, which means not having enough. When farmers hope for abundant harvests, they want crops that grow plentifully. When someone describes living in abundance, they mean having plenty of what they need and then some.