ample Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective more than enough in size or scope or capacity
    • had ample food for the party
    • an ample supply
  2. adjective satellite affording an abundant supply
    plenteous; plentiful; rich; copious.
    • had ample food for the party
    • copious provisions
    • food is plentiful
    • a plenteous grape harvest
    • a rich supply
  3. adjective satellite fairly large
    sizable; sizeable.
    • a sizable fortune
    • an ample waistline
    • of ample proportions

WordNet

Am"ple adjective
Etymology
F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.
Definitions
  1. Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended.
    All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees. Spenser.
  2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.
  3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson. Syn. -- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. -- Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores; plenteous harvests.

Webster 1913