Copious
adjective /ˈkoʊpiəs/ — Abundant; in large quantities.
Definition
Abundant in supply; large in amount; present in quantities that exceed what is strictly necessary.
Beyond the definition
Copious is the word for abundance that impresses — copious notes, copious research, copious rainfall. It carries a sense of generosity or excess, depending on context.
Origin & history
From Latin copiosus (plentiful), from copia (abundance, supply) — from co- (together) + ops (wealth, resources). The same root gives us cornucopia — literally 'horn of plenty'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She took copious notes during every lecture, filling three notebooks per term.
The region receives copious rainfall between June and September.
He produced copious work — over forty novels in a writing career that spanned six decades.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Copious” when the meaning fits your context: Abundant in supply; large in amount; present in quantities that exceed what is strictly necessary.
Synonyms
abundant, plentiful, prolific, extensive, ample
Antonyms
scarce, meagre, sparse, paltry
Related words
- prolific
- profuse
- lavish
- inexhaustible
Copious vs plentiful
Plentiful means there is enough — the quantity meets or exceeds what is needed. Copious implies notably large quantities, often with a sense of impressiveness or excess: copious notes, copious research, copious rainfall. Plentiful is reassuring; copious is almost overwhelming. You can have a plentiful harvest; a copious harvest suggests nearly more than can be managed.
Questions about this word
What does "Copious" mean?
Copious is adjective meaning: Abundant; in large quantities.. Abundant in supply; large in amount; present in quantities that exceed what is strictly necessary.
Where does the word "Copious" come from?
From Latin copiosus (plentiful), from copia (abundance, supply) — from co- (together) + ops (wealth, resources). The same root gives us cornucopia — literally 'horn of plenty'.