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plenty

PLEN-tee/ˈplɛnti/

6 meanings of plenty

Practice

  1. 1
    pronoun
    An amount that is more than you actually need.

    Like having so much food that some is left over after everyone eats.

    There's plenty in the fridge, so help yourself.

    We bought enough food, and there was plenty left over.

    UsageSay plenty of + a noun: plenty of time. Or use it alone: we have plenty.

    Note
  2. 2
    noununcountable
    The state of having more than enough of what you need.

    Like a table so full of food that no one can finish it all.

    After the harvest, the village lived in plenty all winter.

    The good rains gave the farmers a year of plenty.

    UsageOften in a time of plenty or a year of plenty.

    Similarabundance, prosperity, affluence, bounty, plenitude

    Oppositescarcity, want, poverty, famine

    Note
  3. 3
    determinernonstandard
    Used right before a noun, without 'of', in casual speech, to mean a lot of or enough.

    "Take some more, we got plenty rice," her uncle said with a laugh.

    "No rush," Dad said. "We've got plenty time before the train leaves."

    UsageIn writing, add of: plenty of time (not incorrect: plenty time).

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    sufficientlyadverbCanadaUS
    Enough and more than enough for what is needed.

    This blanket is plenty warm for a cold night.

    The little car is plenty fast to win the race.

    UsageGoes before a describing word, often with enough or for: plenty big enough, plenty warm for winter.

    Similareasily, amply, enough

    Note
  2. 5
    veryadverbcolloquialCanadaUS
    Very, used to make another word sound stronger.

    She was plenty mad when she heard the news.

    I'm plenty happy with the way things turned out.

    UsageMeans very, as in plenty mad. Use it when talking, not in formal writing.

    Similarvery, really, pretty, quite, mighty

    Note
  3. 6
    abundantadjectivedated
    Present in large amounts or numbers.
    if reasons were as plenty as blackberries
    1597, Shakespeare, Henry IVHere, plenty means found in large amounts, as common as blackberries.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Old French from Latin "plenus," meaning "full." The English word "full" comes from the same ancient root.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts