WordGarden.iobountiful
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈaʊntɪfəl/
US
- /ˈbaʊnɪfəl/
Meanings
Adjective
abundant or plentiful in amount
generous in giving or providing
Beyond the definition
Picture a harvest festival stacked with ripe fruit, vegetables, and warm bread—that's the feeling of being bountiful. It means a lot of something, more than the expected amount. A bountiful garden, market, or pantry has a surplus that invites sharing and feels almost overflowing.
The word also fits people and situations where generosity runs deep. You might call a bountiful year one with extraordinary growth, opportunities, or good fortune. It can describe a bountiful person, too—someone who gives freely, supports others, and is naturally open-hearted. It is not just enough; it is plentiful in the best, richest sense.
Bountiful means plentiful, ample, and abundant, often with a sense of richness. It is most commonly used for resources, produce, weather, opportunities, or blessings that are more than enough: a bountiful harvest, a bountiful rainfall, a bountiful store of supplies, or a bountiful harvest of ideas.
The word can also describe a generous nature. A bountiful person is one who is willing to give, share, and care for others. In this sense it carries both practical abundance and a generous spirit, which is why it can feel warmer and more expressive than neutral words like "many" or "large."
The term comes from "bounty" (rooted in Old French bonté, meaning goodness), so the sense of "good and plentiful" is built into it. This is why we often hear it with nature and good fortune, but it also works for human qualities and broader life situations: a bountiful childhood, a bountiful career of opportunities, or a bountiful heart.
Examples
- 1
Farming
After the spring rains, the valley produced a bountiful harvest.
- 2
Hospitality
They set a bountiful table for the holiday, with more food than anyone could finish.
- Phrasebountiful table
a table with a lot of food on it
- 3
Food supply
The region enjoys a bountiful supply of fresh fruit for most of the year.
- 4
Generosity
She was bountiful with her time, always ready to help a new employee.
- Patternbountiful with + resource
generous in giving it
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- bountifuladjective