1
: prevalent especially to an increasing degree
suspicion and cruelty were rifeW. E. B. Du Bois
2
3
: copiously supplied : abounding
usually used with with
rife with rumors
rife adverb
rifely adverb

Did you know?

English is rife with words that have Germanic connections, many of which have been handed down to us from Old English. Rife is one of those words. Not a whole lot has changed with rife in its long history. We continue to use the word for negative things, especially those that are widespread or prevalent. Examples are "shoplifting was rife" or "the city was rife with greed and corruption." Rumors and speculation are also frequently described as "rife." But rife can also be appropriately used for good or neutral things. For example, you might speak of the summer garden being "rife" with scents.

Examples of rife in a Sentence

Speculation about who would be fired ran rife for weeks. a city government that is rife with malfeasance and corruption
Recent Examples on the Web Certainly, online misinformation has been rife in the run-up to the election, with much apparently coming from foreign governments and being amplified online. Emma Woollacott, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 Drug use is rife and addiction makes reoffending more likely. Harriet Marsden, theweek, 12 July 2024 Conjecture has been rife on social media about the meaning behind the street artist’s recent series of animals plastered around London over the last week. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2024 That process, that ethos, is rife in every page of this book—even the glossary has orderly instructions!—written with his characteristic unstinting affection and admiration for the work, for the people who do the work, and for a life spent in the kitchen. Gabrielle Hamilton, Bon Appétit, 8 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rife 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rife.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ryfe, from Old English rȳfe; akin to Old Norse rīfr abundant

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rife was in the 12th century

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Dictionary Entries Near rife

Cite this Entry

“Rife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rife. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

rife

adjective
1
: widespread sense 1, prevalent
lands where famine is rife
2
: supplied in large amounts
the town was rife with rumors
rifely adverb

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