Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Rife

adj, adv

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Widespread, common, prevalent, current (mainly of unpleasant or harmful things).

    "Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted."

  2. 2
    Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.

    "Red deer are rife in these woodlands."

  3. 3
    Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things).

    "Many post-colonial governments were rife with lawlessness and corruption."

  4. 4
    Having power; active; nimble. obsolete

    "What! I am rife a little yet."

Adjective
  1. 1
    excessively abundant wordnet
  2. 2
    most frequent or common wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    Plentifully, abundantly.

    "The snowdrops grow rife on the slopes of Mount Pembroke."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English rife, from Old English rīfe, rȳfe (“rife, abundant, frequent”), from Proto-West Germanic *rīb, from Proto-Germanic *rībaz (“generous”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- (“to tear (off), rip”). Cognate with West Frisian rju (“rife, much”), Dutch rijf (“abundant, copious”), Low German rive (“abundant, munificent”), Icelandic rífur (“rife, munificent”), Faroese ríviligur (“plentiful, abundant”), Faroese rívan (“abundantly”), Icelandic reifa (“to bestow”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English rife, from Old English rīfe, rȳfe (“rife, abundant, frequent”), from Proto-West Germanic *rīb, from Proto-Germanic *rībaz (“generous”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- (“to tear (off), rip”). Cognate with West Frisian rju (“rife, much”), Dutch rijf (“abundant, copious”), Low German rive (“abundant, munificent”), Icelandic rífur (“rife, munificent”), Faroese ríviligur (“plentiful, abundant”), Faroese rívan (“abundantly”), Icelandic reifa (“to bestow”).

See also for "rife"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: rife