Abundant means existing in large quantities or plentiful supply. When something is abundant, there's more than enough of it, often more than you actually need.

A garden might have an abundant harvest of tomatoes, with so many ripe ones that the family has to give some away to neighbors. A forest with abundant wildlife is teeming with birds, deer, insects, and other creatures everywhere you look. If your teacher assigns abundant homework, you're looking at a stack of assignments that will keep you busy for hours.

Abundance is that sense of overflowing plenty. When resources are abundant, people don't need to worry about running out. Scientists studying an ecosystem look for abundant species (ones with large, healthy populations) versus rare or endangered ones.

The opposite of abundant is scarce. Water might be abundant in a rainforest but scarce in a desert. You might have abundant energy in the morning but feel it drain away by bedtime. The word suggests not just “enough” but a generous, overflowing amount that leaves you with plenty to spare.