profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən 

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.

Synonyms

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Examples of profusion in a Sentence

The flowers grow in profusion.

apples grow in profusion in this valley

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the past eight years, Trump has totally commandeered the Republican party and proposed a profusion of policies to constrain immigration through the southern border and to limit access to the ballot box, especially in urban centers where nonwhite citizens predominately reside. —Edward A. Wasserman, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2024

But Lithia Park and the profusion of charming restaurants nearby spin a magic of their own, one with ties to the theater company that dominates not only the city’s economy but its very vibrancy. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024

Blessed with a profusion of playmakers, San Francisco doesn’t always ask Kittle to put up gaudy stats, as evidenced by his two receptions for 27 yards in the NFC Championship Game. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2024

In Machine Dazzle’s splendid profusions of sequins, tulle, feathers, and lace, the performers often feel like voluptuous plants or marvelous new species of birds — but the show also sees them strip layer after layer away, becoming more and more vulnerable and recognizably human. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən 

: a plentiful supply : great quantity

lilacs blooming in profusion