Definition

Adjective 1. Excessively abundant; widespread; common to a great degree: Describes something existing or happening in large numbers or amounts, often in an undesirable or unchecked manner. 2. Full of; abounding in: Used to indicate that a place, situation, or thing contains a large quantity of something, typically something negative.

Examples

• Rumors about the company's closure were rife among the employees.
• During the rainy season, mosquitoes are rife in this region.
• The city's streets were rife with crime and corruption.
• Speculation is rife that the minister will resign.

Advanced Usage

• To be/grow/wax rife: To become increasingly common or widespread. This is a more formal or literary construction.
  • Disease grew rife in the overcrowded camps.

Variants and Related Words

• Rifely (adverb): In a widespread manner. (Note: This form is very rare in modern usage.)
• Rife with: This is the standard prepositional phrase used with "rife." It means "full of" or "teeming with."
  • The report was rife with errors.

Synonyms

• Prevalent: Widespread in a particular area at a particular time.
• Abundant: Existing or available in large quantities.
• Pervasive: Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
• Teeming: Full of or swarming with.
• Common: Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.

Antonyms

• Scarce: Insufficient for the demand; rare.
• Uncommon: Out of the ordinary; unusual.
• Rare: Not occurring very often.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Rife with possibility: While "rife" often carries a negative connotation, this phrase uses it in a positive or neutral sense to mean "full of potential."
  • The new technology is rife with possibility for innovation.

Adjective

1. excessively abundant
2. most frequent or common
   • prevailing winds