rife Hear it!

rife Definition

rife (rīf)

adjective

  1. frequently or commonly occurring; widespread malicious gossip was rife
    1. abundant
    2. abounding an interpretation rife with error

Etymology: ME rif < OE ryfe, akin to MDu rijf, abundant, ON rifr, desired < IE *reip- < base *rei-: see reap

rife Related Forms

rife·ness noun

rife Synonyms

rife

modif.

  1. Widespread

    prevalent, extensive, common; see prevailing, widespread.

  2. Abundant

    plentiful, abounding, replete, profuse; see full 1, plentiful 1. See syn. study at prevailing.

rife Usage Examples

Preposition: with

  • superstition: Through the Ages and for All Eternity The exact origin of the wedding ring is uncertain and is rife with superstition and mythology.
  • rumor: Lying low is now mandatory in Baghdad, a city rife with rumors that foreigners will soon be asked to leave.
  • corruption: A significant number have been rife with corruption or have left countries with huge debts.
  • story: The communications press is rife with stories and reports about the probable downturn.. .

Preposition: at

time: It also suggest that the two died due to some infection rife at the time.

Modifying Another Word

  • still: False teaching is still rife in the church today.
  • particularly: The data also showed that the unemployment is particularly rife among women.
  • so: False positive and negative results we are told are so rife its more stress than its worth.
  • already: Importing tens of millions of foreign workers into a bloc already rife with racial tensions is also fraught with political difficulties.
  • now: A huge increase in ' phishing ' which is the use of often sophisticated e-mail scams is now rife in the UK.
  • also: Bullying, sexual harassment and physical abuse is also rife.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Despite the bad news, optimism about the economy remains rife.
  • run: The burning pain now running rife could surely soon destroy our life.
  • become: However, these systems are rapidly penetrating the market and will soon become rife.

Preposition: in

  • workplace: Dianah Worman, CIPD Diversity Adviser, says, ' Figures show age discrimination is still rife in the workplace.
  • town: The country quiet, but the plague rife in small towns about Edinburgh.
  • today: False teaching is still rife in the church today.
  • country: Home invasion and murder is rife in this country at the moment.
  • area: Adamnan died around 704 AD, having been attributed with the halting of the plague rife in the area at the time.
  • world: The findings offer an explanation as to why breast cancer is more rife in the western world compared with the developing world.

Browse dictionary entries near rife

  1. rifampin
  2. rif
  3. Riesling
  4. Rienzi
  5. Riemannian geometry
  6. riel
  7. ridotto
  8. ridley
  9. riding school
  10. riding master
  1. riff
  2. riffle
  3. riffraff
  4. rifle
  5. rifle range
  6. rifleman
  7. riflery
  8. rifling
  9. rift
  10. Rift Valley