rife

[ rahyf ]
/ raɪf /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rife ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use: Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities.
current in speech or report: Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty.
abundant, plentiful, or numerous.
abounding (usually followed by with).

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Origin of rife

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

OTHER WORDS FROM rife

rifely, adverbrifeness, nouno·ver·rife, adjectiveun·rife, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rife

rife , ripe.

Words nearby rife

Rifadin, Rifaʿiya, rifampicin, rifampin, rifamycin, rife, riff, riffage, riffle, riffler, riffola
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to rife

prevalent, alive, plentiful, popular, abundant, rampant, replete, abounding, common, current, epidemic, extensive, frequent, general, many, multitudinous, numerous, prevailing, profuse, raging

Example sentences from the Web for rife

British Dictionary definitions for rife

rife
/ (raɪf) /

adjective (postpositive)

of widespread occurrence; prevalent or currentrumour was rife in the village
very plentiful; abundant
(foll by with) abounding (in)a land rife with poverty

Derived forms of rife

rifely, adverbrifeness, noun

Word Origin for rife

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