rich

[ rich ]

/ rɪtʃ /

Save This Word!

adjective, rich·er, rich·est.

having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy: a rich man;a rich nation.

abounding in natural resources: a rich territory.

having wealth or valuable resources (usually followed by in): a country rich in traditions.

abounding (usually followed by in or with): a countryside rich in beauty;a design rich with colors.

of great value or worth; valuable: a rich collection of antique vases.

(of food) delectably and perhaps unhealthfully spicy, or sweet and abounding in butter or cream: a rich gravy;a rich pastry.

costly, expensively elegant, or fine, as dress or jewels.

elaborately abundant; sumptuous: a rich feast.

using valuable materials or characterized by elaborate workmanship, as buildings or furniture.

abounding in desirable elements or qualities: a man rich in kindness.

(of wine) strong and finely flavored.

(of color) deep, strong, or vivid: rich purple.

full and mellow in tone: rich sounds;a rich voice.

strongly fragrant; pungent: a rich odor.

producing or yielding abundantly: a rich soil.

abundant, plentiful, or ample: a rich supply.

Automotive. (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively high ratio of fuel to air (contrasted with lean² def. 5).

Informal.

highly amusing.
ridiculous; absurd.

noun Usually the rich .(used with a plural verb)

rich persons collectively: new tax shelters for the rich.

OTHER WORDS FOR rich

1 well-to-do, moneyed.

7 precious, high-priced, dear.

12 intense, vibrant.

14 aromatic.

15 fruitful, productive, prolific, luxuriant.

16 bountiful, copious, abounding, bounteous.

See synonyms for rich on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR rich

1-5, 15, 16 poor.

See antonyms for rich on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of rich

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English rīce (adjective), ultimately from Celtic; cognate with German reich “wealthy”; akin to Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājan “king”

synonym study for rich

1. Rich, wealthy, affluent all indicate abundance of possessions. Rich is the general word; it may imply that possessions are newly acquired: an oilman who became rich overnight. Wealthy suggests permanence, stability, and appropriate surroundings: a wealthy banker. Affluent usually suggests a generous amount of income, with a high standard of living and some social prestige and privilege: an affluent family.

OTHER WORDS FROM rich

richly, adverbrichness, nouno·ver·rich, adjectiveo·ver·rich·ly, adverb

o·ver·rich·ness, nounsu·per·rich, adjective, nounul·tra·rich, adjective, noun

Other definitions for rich (2 of 2)

Rich

[ rich ]

/ rɪtʃ /

noun

Adrienne, 1929–2012, U.S. poet and feminist.

a male given name, form of Richard.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rich in a sentence

We have richer, healthier lives and more meaningful relationships of all kinds.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Or how much richer a few rich Mexicans are going to get in the process?
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He campaigned and governed in poetry, and we are all the richer for it.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion|Jonathan Alter|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Buddhist purists are dismayed by one-percenters using mindfulness to get even richer.
What If Meditation Isn’t Good for You?|Jay Michaelson|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But history professor Ian Morris also argues that war has made humanity safer and richer over the last 10,000 years.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a deeper, richer soil, with far less stone on the level low lands.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
There is quite a little knack in letting the hand fall so, but when you have once got it, the chord sounds much richer and fuller.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Magellan learned from these people that he was near still richer and larger islands.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
He isn't half as nice as Jim Barlow, for all he's so much better looking and richer.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
She was sent to me and I shall keep her, even if John did once say that a richer woman could do more for her than we can.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for rich (1 of 2)

rich

/ (rɪtʃ) /

adjective

well supplied with wealth, property, etc; owning much
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the rich

(when postpositive , usually foll by in) having an abundance of natural resources, minerals, etca land rich in metals

producing abundantly; fertilerich soil

(when postpositive , usually foll by in or with) well supplied (with desirable qualities); abundant (in)a country rich with cultural interest

of great worth or quality; valuablea rich collection of antiques

luxuriant or prolifica rich growth of weeds

expensively elegant, elaborate, or fine; costlya rich display

(of food) having a large proportion of flavoursome or fatty ingredients, such as spices, butter, or cream

having a full-bodied flavoura rich ruby port

(of a smell) pungent or fragrant

(of colour) intense or vivid; deepa rich red

(of sound or a voice) full, mellow, or resonant

(of a fuel-air mixture) containing a relatively high proportion of fuelCompare weak (def. 12)

very amusing, laughable, or ridiculousa rich joke; a rich situation

noun

See riches

Word Origin for rich

Old English rīce (originally of persons: great, mighty), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Celtic (compare Old Irish rī king)

British Dictionary definitions for rich (2 of 2)

Rich

/ (rɪtʃ) /

noun

Adrienne. 1929–2012, US poet and feminist writer; her volumes of poetry include Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law (1963) and Diving Into the Wreck (1973)

Buddy, real name Bernard Rich . 1917–87, US jazz drummer and band leader

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with rich

rich

In addition to the idiom beginning with rich

rich as Croesus

also see:

embarrassment of riches
from rags to riches
strike it rich

rich

OTHER WORDS FOR rich

OPPOSITES FOR rich

Origin of rich

synonym study for rich

OTHER WORDS FROM rich

Other definitions for rich (2 of 2)

Words related to rich

How to use rich in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rich (1 of 2)

Word Origin for rich

British Dictionary definitions for rich (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with rich