Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Many; much.
  • noun An abundance; a lot.
  • adverb In abundance; galore.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • determiner US much, many, a lot of.
  • noun An abundance
  • adverb In abundance.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French : beau, bel, fine, handsome; see beau + coup, stroke; see coup.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Borrowing from French. Popularized by the American GIs during the Vietnam War.

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Examples

  • "No," she said, "that is the most like him," taking down a miniature by an Italian artist, "_mais il était beaucoup plus beau -- beaucoup -- beaucoup_."

    Little Memoirs of the Nineteenth Century George Paston

  • The humble "pot à lait" hinted that a simple "merci beaucoup" is sometimes all it takes ... to say thanks.

    pot - French Word-A-Day 2008

  • The humble "pot à lait" hinted that a simple "merci beaucoup" is sometimes all it takes ... to say thanks.

    French Word-A-Day: 2008

  • The humble "pot à lait" hinted that a simple "merci beaucoup" is sometimes all it takes ... to say thanks.

    French Word-A-Day: 2008

  • It was in the position near Thiacourt that the battery took possession of a captured German 77, in good condition and with "beaucoup" ammunition stacked around, and turned it against the retreating Huns.

    History of the 113th Field Artillery 30th Division 1920

  • I smiled at some of the terms, as it brought back for me tales told by many friends I know who were in Vietnam for the war - especially "beaucoup," which seemed to be a favorite adopted word.

    Hungry Magazine 2009

  • Colleges push this mis-conception because the government gives them beaucoup bucks per student per class for adult education programs.

    An Education in Mexico 2009

  • After crushing Newt Gingrich in Florida, the nomination for the Republican primary race was written off as a done deal with Romney all but handed the crown and the beaucoup bouquets reserved for winners.

    Will Durst: A Tone-Deaf Tin-Eared Borg Will Durst 2012

  • After crushing Newt Gingrich in Florida, the nomination for the Republican primary race was written off as a done deal with Romney all but handed the crown and the beaucoup bouquets reserved for winners.

    Will Durst: A Tone-Deaf Tin-Eared Borg Will Durst 2012

  • Colleges push this mis-conception because the government gives them beaucoup bucks per student per class for adult education programs.

    An Education in Mexico 2009

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