What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abound
Example
The forest abounds with wildlife. [abound: verb]
Example
The city abounds in cultural diversity. [abounds: present tense]
teem
Example
The river teems with fish during spawning season. [teem: verb]
Example
The streets were teeming with people during the festival. [teeming: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Abound is more commonly used than teem in formal writing or speech, but both words are less common in everyday language.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between abound and teem?
Abound is generally considered more formal than teem, which is more commonly used in informal contexts.
