adj · adv · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ɹaɪf/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪf
CMU ARPABET:R AY1 F
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Widespread, common, prevalent, current (mainly of unpleasant or harmful things).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted.
Rumors were rife that the factory was about to shut down.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Red deer are rife in these woodlands.
Seeds are rife in a watermelon.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Many post-colonial governments were rife with lawlessness and corruption.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fraught
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Having power; active; nimble.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adv
Meaning 5
Plentifully, abundantly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The snowdrops grow rife on the slopes of Mount Pembroke.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
excessively abundant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
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”).
Across languages
Translations
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
широко разпространен
(široko razprostranen)
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Czech:
běžný
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Czech:
rozšířený
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Dutch:
schering en inslag
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Dutch:
welig
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
yleinen
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
tavallinen
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
levinnyt
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Italian:
diffuso
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Russian:
киша́щий
(kišáščij)
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Spanish:
extendido
— Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things)
Bulgarian:
изобилстващ
(izobilstvašt)
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Czech:
hojný
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Dutch:
welig
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Dutch:
alom
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Esperanto:
abunda
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Finnish:
lukuisa
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Finnish:
runsas
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
French:
abondant
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Japanese:
満ちた
(michita)
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Russian:
изоби́лующий
(izobílujuščij)
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Russian:
распространённый
(rasprostranjónnyj)
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Spanish:
abundante
— Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful
Bulgarian:
гъмжащ
(gǎmžašt)
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Chinese Mandarin:
充斥
(chōngchì)
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Czech:
plný
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Czech:
oplývající
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
täynnä
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
täysi
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Finnish:
pullollaan
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
French:
criblé
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
French:
sévi
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Norwegian:
gjennomsyrt
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
Norwegian:
herja av
— Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things)
