rife

UK: /ˈraɪf/ US: /raɪf/ ,(rīf )

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rife /raɪf/   adj. [be + ~]

1. of common or frequent occurrence;
   plentiful:
   Crime is rife in the city.
2. full of:
   [~ + with] The city is rife with crime nowadays.

rife•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rife  (rīf ), adj. 

1. of common or frequent occurrence;
   prevalent;
   in widespread existence, activity, or use:
   Crime is rife in the slum areas of our cities.
2. current in speech or report:
   Rumors are rife that the government is in financial difficulty.
3. abundant, plentiful, or numerous.
4. abounding (usually fol. by with).

• bef. 1150; Middle English; Old English rīfe; cognate with Middle Dutch rijf abundant, Old Norse rīfr 

rife′ly, adv. 
rife′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. plenteous, multitudinous; teeming, swarming.

Antonyms

• 3. scarce.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rife / raɪf/ adjective (postpositive)

1. of widespread occurrence; prevalent or current
2. very plentiful; abundant
3. (followed by with) abounding (in): a land rife with poverty

Etymology: Old English rīfe; related to Old Norse rīfr generous, Middle Dutch rīve

ˈrifely adverb

ˈrifeness noun