plenty
PLEHN-tee
Plenty (noun) means a large or more-than-sufficient amount. Example: “There's plenty of time before the train leaves.”
noun
1
A large or more-than-sufficient amount.
"There's plenty of time before the train leaves."
"We have plenty of leftovers if you're hungry."
"Don't worry, there is plenty of food for everyone."
adv
1
Informal: used to mean "very" or "quite."
"The soup was plenty hot enough."
"The coffee was plenty strong for me this morning."
"It's plenty cold outside, so wear a thick coat."
How to use plenty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMore than enough — a comfortable abundance of something.
Common pairings
plenty of time
plenty of room
plenty more
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Word forms
- Plural
- plenties
- Comparative
- more plenty
- Superlative
- most plenty
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There's _____ of time before the train leaves.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman plenté, ultimately from Latin plenitas ("fullness"), from plenus ("full") — the same root that gives us "full," "complete," and "replenish."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for plenty
See all rhymes for plenty →Frequently asked questions
What does “plenty” mean?
The word “plenty” means a large or more-than-sufficient amount. In plain terms, more than enough — a comfortable abundance of something.
How do you pronounce “plenty”?
“Plenty” is pronounced PLEHN-tee (/ˈplɛnti/ in IPA).
How do you use “plenty” in a sentence?
Here is “plenty” used in a sentence: “There's plenty of time before the train leaves.”
What part of speech is “plenty”?
Depending on how it is used, “plenty” can be a noun and an adverb.
Where does the word “plenty” come from?
The word “plenty” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman plenté, ultimately from Latin plenitas ("fullness"), from plenus ("full") — the same root that gives us "full," "complete," and "replenish.".
Is “plenty” a common word?
“Plenty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “plenty” have?
“Plenty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large or more-than-sufficient amount.
What is the difference between plenty and enough?
"Enough" means just the amount needed, with no shortage. "Plenty" means more than enough — an abundant supply with some to spare. If you have enough chairs, everyone can sit; if you have plenty, there are extra. Plenty carries a sense of comfortable abundance that enough does not.
Is plenty a noun or an adverb?
Chiefly a noun meaning abundance, as in "a land of plenty" or "plenty of time." Informally it also works as an adverb or intensifier, as in "there's plenty more" or "it's plenty big enough." The pattern "plenty of" before another noun is its most common everyday use.
What is an example of plenty?
"We have plenty of food for everyone" shows the common "plenty of" pattern, meaning an ample supply. Other examples include "there's plenty of time," "a land of plenty," and "I've had plenty, thank you." Each stresses a generous, more-than-sufficient amount.
What is the opposite of plenty?
The opposite of plenty is "scarcity," "shortage," or "lack." Where plenty means an abundant, more-than-sufficient supply, these words mean too little. Related opposites include "want" and "dearth," or "famine" when the shortage is severe.
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