rich

UK: /ˈrɪtʃ/ US: /rɪtʃ/ ,(rich)

Inflections of 'rich' (adj):

richer

adj comparative

richest

adj superlative

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

rich /rɪtʃ/   adj., -er, -est, n. 
adj. 

1. having wealth or great possessions.
2. having great or many natural resources:
   a rich harvest last year.
3. having a great amount of something:
   [be + ~ + with/in] fruits rich in vitamin C.
4. containing a large amount of cream, butter, fat, sugar, or the like:
   a rich gravy.
5. (of color, etc.) deep, strong, full, or mellow:
   a deep, rich red wine.
6. Informal Terms [be + ~]
   • highly amusing, so as to be absurd:
     Go on a date with you? Ha, that's rich!

n. 

7. the rich, [plural* used with a plural verb] rich people thought of as a group:
   The rich get richer.

rich•ly, adv. 
rich•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rich  (rich), adj., -er, -est, n. 
adj. 

1. having wealth or great possessions;
   abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds;
   wealthy:
   a rich man; a rich nation.
2. abounding in natural resources:
   a rich territory.
3. having wealth or valuable resources (usually fol. by in):
   a country rich in traditions.
4. abounding (usually fol. by in or with):
   a countryside rich in beauty; a design rich with colors.
5. of great value or worth;
   valuable:
   a rich harvest.
6. (of food) delectably and perhaps unhealthfully spicy, or sweet and abounding in butter or cream:
   a rich gravy; a rich pastry.
7. costly, expensively elegant, or fine, as dress or jewels.
8. sumptuous;
   elaborately abundant:
   a rich feast.
9. using valuable materials or characterized by elaborate workmanship, as buildings or furniture.
10. abounding in desirable elements or qualities:
    a man rich in kindness.
11. Wine (of wine) strong and finely flavored.
12. (of color) deep, strong, or vivid:
    rich purple.
13. full and mellow in tone:
    rich sounds; a rich voice.
14. strongly fragrant;
    pungent:
    a rich odor.
15. Agriculture producing or yielding abundantly:
    a rich soil.
16. abundant, plentiful, or ample:
    a rich supply.
17. Automotive (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively high ratio of fuel to air (contrasted with lean).
18. Informal Terms
    • highly amusing.
    • ridiculous;
      absurd.

n. 
19. (used with a pl. v.) rich persons collectively (usually prec. by the):
    new tax shelters for the rich.
• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English rīce (adjective, adjectival) Celtic; cognate with German reich wealthy; akin to Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājan king
rich′ly, adv. 
rich′ness, n. 
Synonyms
• 1. well-to-do, moneyed.
  Rich, wealthy, affluent all indicate abundance of possessions.
  Rich is the general word; it may imply that possessions are newly acquired:
  an oilman who became rich overnight.
  Wealthy suggests permanence, stability, and appropriate surroundings:
  a wealthy banker.
  Affluent usually suggests a generous amount of income, with a high standard of living and some social prestige and privilege:
  an affluent family.
• 5. bountiful, copious, luxuriant.
• 7. precious, high-priced, dear.
• 12. intense, vibrant.
• 14. aromatic.
• 15. fruitful, productive, prolific, luxuriant.
• 16. bountiful, copious, abounding, bounteous.
Antonyms
• 1. –5, 15, 16. poor.

Rich  (rich), n. 

1. Biographical Adrienne, born 1929, U.S. poet and feminist.
2. a male given name, form of Richard. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rich / rɪtʃ/ adjective

1. well supplied with wealth, property, etc; owning much
2. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the rich
3. when postpositive, usually followed by in: having an abundance of natural resources, minerals, etc: a land rich in metals
4. producing abundantly; fertile: rich soil
5. when postpositive, usually followed by in or with: well supplied (with desirable qualities); abundant (in): a country rich with cultural interest
6. of great worth or quality; valuable: a rich collection of antiques
7. luxuriant or prolific: a rich growth of weeds
8. expensively elegant, elaborate, or fine; costly: a rich display
9. (of food) having a large proportion of flavoursome or fatty ingredients, such as spices, butter, or cream
10. having a full-bodied flavour: a rich ruby port
11. (of a smell) pungent or fragrant
12. (of colour) intense or vivid; deep: a rich red
13. (of sound or a voice) full, mellow, or resonant
14. (of a fuel-air mixture) containing a relatively high proportion of fuel
15. very amusing, laughable, or ridiculous: a rich joke, a rich situation

noun

1. See riches

Etymology: Old English rīce (originally of persons: great, mighty), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Celtic (compare Old Irish rī king)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Rich / rɪtʃ/ noun

1. Adrienne. 1929–2012, US poet and feminist writer; her volumes of poetry include Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law (1963) and Diving Into the Wreck (1973)
2. Buddy, real name Bernard Rich. 1917–87, US jazz drummer and band leader