rife
Rife (adj) means Widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant. Example: “Rumours were rife in the office after the announcement.”
How to use rife
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery common or widespread — almost always describing something bad, like rumours, disease, or corruption.
Rife is normally followed by "with" (rife with problems), not "of" or "in".
Word forms
rifer comparative, more rife comparative, rifest superlative, most rife superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rumours were _____ in the office after the announcement.
Etymology
From Old English rīfe (\"abundant, frequent\"), related to Dutch rijf (\"abundant\").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for rife
See all rhymes for rife →Frequently asked questions
What does “rife” mean?
The word “rife” means widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant. In plain terms, very common or widespread — almost always describing something bad, like rumours, disease, or corruption.
How do you pronounce “rife”?
“Rife” is pronounced ryf (/ɹaɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “rife” in a sentence?
Here is “rife” used in a sentence: “Rumours were rife in the office after the announcement.”
What is another word for “rife”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rife” include ubiquitous.
What part of speech is “rife”?
“Rife” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rife” come from?
The word “rife” comes from Old English. From Old English rīfe (\"abundant, frequent\"), related to Dutch rijf (\"abundant\").
How many meanings does “rife” have?
“Rife” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: widespread or common, usually referring to something unpleasant.
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