rife

[ rahyf ]
See synonyms for rife on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use: Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities.

  2. current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty.

  1. abundant, plentiful, or numerous.

  2. abounding (usually followed by with).

Origin of rife

1
before 1150; Middle English; Old English rīfe; cognate with Middle Dutch rijf abundant, Old Norse rīfr

Other words for rife

Opposites for rife

Other words from rife

  • rifely, adverb
  • rifeness, noun
  • o·ver·rife, adjective
  • un·rife, adjective

Words that may be confused with rife

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for rife

rife

/ (raɪf) /


adjective(postpositive)
  1. of widespread occurrence; prevalent or current: rumour was rife in the village

  2. very plentiful; abundant

  1. (foll by with) abounding (in): a land rife with poverty

Origin of rife

1
Old English rīfe; related to Old Norse rīfr generous, Middle Dutch rīve

Derived forms of rife

  • rifely, adverb
  • rifeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012