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 Dictionary entry overview: What does ample mean? 

• AMPLE (adjective)
  The adjective AMPLE has 3 senses:

1. more than enough in size or scope or capacity

2. affording an abundant supply

3. fairly large in size

  Familiarity information: AMPLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AMPLE (adjective)

Comparative: ampler   
Superlative: amplest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

More than enough in size or scope or capacity

Context example:

an ample supply

Similar:

full; good (having the normally expected amount)

generous (more than is usual or necessary)

full; wide; wide-cut (having ample fabric)

Also:

abundant (present in great quantity)

sufficient (of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant)

Attribute:

adequacy; sufficiency (the quality of being sufficient for the end in view)

Antonym:

meager (deficient in amount or quality or extent)

Derivation:

ampleness (the property of being more than sufficient; comfortable sufficiency)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Affording an abundant supply

Synonyms:

ample; copious; plenteous; plentiful; rich

Context example:

a rich supply

Similar:

abundant (present in great quantity)

Derivation:

ampleness (the property of being more than sufficient; comfortable sufficiency)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Fairly large in size

Synonyms:

ample; sizable; sizeable

Context example:

of ample proportions

Similar:

big; large (above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent)

Derivation:

ampleness (the property of impressive largeness in size)

 Context examples 

Sir Walter, however, would choose his own means, and at last wrote a very fine letter of ample explanation, regret, and entreaty, to his right honourable cousin.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

They rode out into the hills several Sundays on their wheels, and Martin had ample opportunity to observe the armed truce that existed between Ruth and Olney.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Two months is an ample allowance; I should think six weeks quite enough.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Scarcely less prominent was an ample cushioned easy-chair near the head of the bed, also white, with a footstool before it; and looking, as I thought, like a pale throne.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Although the function of nucleophosmin has not been defined precisely, ample evidence suggests that it is involved in the assembly of ribosomal proteins into ribosomes.

(Nucleophosmin, NCI Thesaurus/from OMIM)

If you like where you are living now, there is ample evidence that you are passionate about decorating, and rarely have your ideas been this unique and special.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

There is ample evidence of past activity on the surface, including flows, landslides and collapsed structures.

(Ceres Spots Continue to Mystify in Latest Dawn Images, NASA)

All of us had an ample share of the treasure and used it wisely or foolishly, according to our natures.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Mr. Elton's superiority had very ample acknowledgment.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I had ample leisure to refine upon my uneasiness: for Steerforth was at Oxford, as he wrote to me, and when I was not at the Commons, I was very much alone.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)