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rife

[ rahyf ]
/ raɪf /
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rife in a sentence

  • Oh, such a vonderful place for a man and a voman to love, dem falls of dat Roaring Rifer!

    The Peace of Roaring River|George van Schaick

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
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