rife
[ rahyf ]
/ raɪf /
Save This Word!
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).
SYNONYMS FOR rife
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
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, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rife
rife , ripeWords nearby rife
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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, nounWord 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