ample

adjective

am·​ple ˈam-pəl How to pronounce ample (audio)
ampler ˈam-p(ə-)lər How to pronounce ample (audio) ; amplest ˈam-p(ə-)ləst How to pronounce ample (audio)
Synonyms of amplenext
1
: generous or more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity
There was room for an ample garden.
2
: generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need
They had ample money for the trip.
3
: buxom, portly
an ample figure
ampleness
ˈam-pəl-nəs How to pronounce ample (audio)
noun
amply
ˈam-plē How to pronounce ample (audio)
adverb

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for ample

spacious, commodious, capacious, ample mean larger in extent or capacity than the average.

spacious implies great length and breadth.

a spacious front lawn

commodious stresses roominess and comfortableness.

a commodious and airy penthouse apartment

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

a capacious suitcase

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

ample closet space

plentiful, ample, abundant, copious mean more than sufficient without being excessive.

plentiful implies a great or rich supply.

peaches are plentiful this summer

ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement.

ample food to last the winter

abundant suggests an even greater or richer supply than does plentiful.

streams abundant with fish

copious stresses largeness of supply rather than fullness or richness.

copious examples of bureaucratic waste

Examples of ample in a Sentence

They had ample money for the trip. The police found ample evidence of wrongdoing. There is ample parking at the stadium. You will have ample opportunity to finish the test. The light in the room is more than ample. There was room for an ample garden. an ample serving of pie
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those just visiting Charlottetown will enjoy wandering around a charming, mostly flat town with ample restaurants, bookshops and other attractions. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Read more Sara Coughlin is a writer and editor with ample experience covering health and wellness trends. —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024 These days, the sales start as early as October sometimes and will continue to trickle in until the main event on November 29, giving you ample time to start perusing the discounts and get a head start on your gift list. —Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024 Of course, cottage is a humble term for this abode, with ample bedrooms (plus a tiny house with a loft) fit for comfortably hosting a group. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ample 

Word History

Etymology

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 *h2emh3- "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.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near ample

ampicillin

ample

amplectic

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ample. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

ample

adjective
am·​ple ˈam-pəl How to pronounce ample (audio)
ampler -p(ə-)lər How to pronounce ample (audio) ; amplest -p(ə-)ləst How to pronounce ample (audio)
1
: generous in size, scope, or capacity : copious
ample room for a garden
2
: enough to satisfy a need
ample money for the trip
ampleness noun
amply
-plē How to pronounce ample (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on ample

Nglish: Translation of ample for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ample for Arabic Speakers

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