singular or plural in construction
: an adequate or more than adequate number or amount of something : a number or amount of something that is enough for a particular purpose
had plenty of time to finish the job
plenty of room
I don't need more. I have plenty.
There's plenty to do/see here.
: an abundance especially of material things that permit a satisfactory life : a condition or time of abundance
a feeling of plenty
a land of plenty
a season of plenty
Many commentators object to use of sense 2 in writing; it appears to be limited chiefly to spoken English. Sense 1 is literary but is no longer in common use.
: more than sufficiently : to a considerable degree
the nights were plenty cold—
F. B. Gipson
Many handbooks advise avoiding the adverb plenty in writing; "use very, quite, or a more precise word," they advise. Actually plenty is often a more precise word than its recommended replacements; very, fully, or quite will not work as well in these typical quotations.
it's already plenty hot for us in the kitchen without some dolt opening the oven
—
C. H. Bridges
may not be rising quite as rapidly as other health costs, but it is going up plenty fast
—
Changing Times
It is not used in more formal writing.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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