profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce profusion (audio)
prō-
1
: lavish expenditure : extravagance
2
: the quality or state of being profuse
3
: great quantity : lavish display or supply
snow falling in profusion

Did you know?

A profusion is literally a "pouring forth", so a profusion of gifts is a wealth or abundance of gifts. A profusely illustrated book is filled to overflowing with pictures. A bad social error should be followed by profuse apologies, and profound gratitude should be expressed with profuse thanks.

Examples of profusion in a Sentence

The flowers grow in profusion. apples grow in profusion in this valley
Recent Examples on the Web Small roots will form, but the real payoff is the profusion of new leafy greens, which taste like a cross between parsley and carrots. Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 Broad expanses of blue sky made room for peaceful solar coexistence with a profusion of clouds, but however many the daytime clouds were, none seemed to suggest the dark surliness of winter gloom. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024 Paris design firm Gilles and Boissier jazzed up the 21 rooms with creams, stone, linen, and a profusion of palms separating outside spaces with curtains of greenery. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023 For a start, just about everyone in finance is looking fairly closely at bonds, and especially at the 10-year Treasury, for clues about a profusion of critical issues. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 Despite the profusion of luxury brands in the Yalikavak Marina, Dilber favors shops like Misela, which offer a less western fashion perspective. Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2023 Of course, those shops are always there in profusion, along with wine stores, butchers and outdoor markets that draw on the bounty of Austria itself. John Mariani, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 The orchard was filled with a profusion of ripe fruit in shades from golden-green to pinkish red. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023 That has helped propel a profusion of alternative sites online. Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'profusion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of profusion was in 1545

Dictionary Entries Near profusion

Cite this Entry

“Profusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profusion. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

profusion

noun
pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce profusion (audio)
: a plentiful supply : great quantity
lilacs blooming in profusion

More from Merriam-Webster on profusion

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