ample

adjective

am·ple ˈam-pəl

ampler ˈam-p(ə-)lər

; amplest ˈam-p(ə-)ləst

Synonyms of ample next

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

There was room for an ample garden.

: generously sufficient to satisfy a requirement or need

They had ample money for the trip.

: buxom, portly

an ample figure

ampleness

ˈam-pəl-nəs

noun

amply

ˈam-plē

adverb

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.

So, this means the Bears aren’t going to dial in on just one candidate after two weeks, interview that guy in person and make a move. — All the time the team has had to prepare for this week has given the Bears ample opportunity to vet a wide range of candidates. —

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025 There may be drawbacks However, there are some reasons why TDFs may not work for certain investors, especially those with ample savings outside their 401(k) plan or who want to take a more hands-on approach, advisors said. —

Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025 The new year is upon us, and with ample opportunities for travel ahead, there’s never been a better time to give your wardrobe and gear selection a boost with cozy clothes and high-quality luggage to amp up your 2025 adventures. —

Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025 Granted, social media gives ample opportunity to spread misinformation and outright lies. —

Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025 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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ample. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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Kids Definition

ample

adjective

am·ple ˈam-pəl

ampler -p(ə-)lər

; amplest -p(ə-)ləst

: generous in size, scope, or capacity : copious

ample room for a garden

: enough to satisfy a need

ample money for the trip

ampleness noun

amply

-plē

adverb

Last Updated: 9 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences

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ample

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of ample in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near ample

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition