rich

[rich]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rich ON THESAURUS.COM

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 harvest.

(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.

sumptuous; elaborately abundant: 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 lean²def 5).

Informal.

highly amusing.
ridiculous; absurd.

noun

(used with a plural verb) rich persons collectively (usually preceded by the): new tax shelters for the rich.

Origin of rich

before 900; Middle English; Old English rīce (adj.) ≪ Celtic; cognate with German reich wealthy; akin to Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājan king

Related formsrich·ly, adverbrich·ness, nouno·ver·rich, adjectiveo·ver·rich·ly, adverbo·ver·rich·ness, nounsu·per·rich, adjective, nounul·tra·rich, adjective, noun

Synonyms for rich

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rich ON THESAURUS.COM

1. well-to-do, moneyed. 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. 5. bountiful, copious, luxuriant. 7. precious, high-priced, dear. 12. intense, vibrant. 14. aromatic. 15. fruitful, productive, prolific, luxuriant. 16. bountiful, copious, abounding, bounteous.

Antonyms for rich

1–5, 15, 16. poor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for richest

easy, prosperous, well-heeled, well-off, fat, affluent, well-to-do, wealthy, full, fertile, splendid, lush, valuable, plentiful, elegant, expensive, gorgeous, smart, heavy, spicy

Examples from the Web for richest

Contemporary Examples of richest

He wanted to be the best, the most successful, and the richest.
The High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s
J. North Conway
October 19, 2014
You see claims that John D. Rockefeller was “the richest person in history.”
Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds
P. J. O’Rourke
August 9, 2014
Jemima Khan, nee Goldsmith, is the daughter of one of Britain's richest men, Sir Jimmy Goldsmith, who died in 1997.
Masseuse Claims Assault by Russell Brand
Tom Sykes
August 2, 2014
They represent only 0.16 percent of our population (316 million), and we are the richest nation on earth.
Is it Time to Send Lady Liberty Back to France?
Gene Robinson
July 20, 2014
New York was the richest city in the richest country in the world—in all of history.
When New York City Hit Its Stride
Allen Barra
July 17, 2014

Historical Examples of richest

They are probably the richest and most comfortable population of Europe at this hour.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
Battle Abbey was one of the greatest and richest foundations.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II
Charlotte Mary Yonge
"Sure there was," answered Katy instantly in her richest, mellowest brogue.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
"Certainly; to you as much as to the richest among us," said d'Hebonville.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa
There I will treat you with the nicest apples and the richest cream.
Imogen
William Godwin

British Dictionary definitions for richest

Rich

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

rich

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)

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

Word Origin and History for richest

rich

adj.

Old English rice "strong, powerful; great, mighty; of high rank," in later Old English "wealthy," from Proto-Germanic *rikijaz (cf. Old Norse rikr, Swedish rik, Danish rig, Old Frisian rike "wealthy, mighty," Dutch rijk, Old High German rihhi "ruler, powerful, rich," German reich "rich," Gothic reiks "ruler, powerful, rich"), borrowed from a Celtic source akin to Gaulish *rix, Old Irish ri (genitive rig) "king," from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," hence, "direct, rule" (see rex).

The form of the word was influenced in Middle English by Old French riche "wealthy, magnificent, sumptuous," which is, with Spanish rico, Italian ricco, from Frankish *riki "powerful," or some other cognate Germanic source.

Old English also had a noun, rice "rule, reign, power, might; authority; empire." The evolution of the word reflects a connection between wealth and power in the ancient world. Of food and colors, from early 14c.; of sounds, from 1590s. Sense of "entertaining, amusing" is recorded from 1760. The noun meaning "the wealthy" was in Old English.

Idioms and Phrases with richest

rich

In addition to the idiom beginning with rich

rich as Croesus

also see:

embarrassment of riches
from rags to riches
strike it rich