rife

CEFRC2

/ɹaɪf/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Very common, especially something unpleasant or harmful.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.

Examples

  • Alcoholism is rife in some parts of Kabylie.

  • The village is rife with dirty shops selling cheapjack souvenirs.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Full of (mostly unpleasant or harmful things).

  2. Widespread, common, prevalent, current (mainly of unpleasant or harmful things).

  3. Having power; active; nimble.

More examples

In context

  • Red deer are rife in these woodlands.

  • Rumors were rife that the factory was about to shut down.

  • Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted.

Synonyms

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

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”).