rife
gb/ɹˈaɪf/ us/ɹˈaɪf/
C1
English
elterjedt, tele van
C1
FORMAL
1
elterjedt
B2
Usage pattern:
[something bad] is rife (in/among/throughout [place/group])
Corruption was rife in the local government for years.
Évekig elterjedt volt a korrupció a helyi önkormányzatban.
During the heatwave, misinformation about water safety was rife online.
A hőhullám idején rengeteg téves információ terjedt az interneten a vízbiztonságról.
After the layoffs, anxiety was rife throughout the company.
Learner examples
In my city, bike theft is rife.
A városomban nagyon elterjedt a kerékpárlopás.
Rumors were rife at school.
Rengeteg pletyka keringett az iskolában.
Common mistake:
Often used for negative things (e.g., crime, corruption); it can sound odd with clearly positive nouns.
Meaning
very common, widespread (usually bad)
Collocations
crime is rife
|corruption is rife
|violence is rife
|disease is rife
|rumors are rife
|speculation is rife
|racism is rife
|fraud is rife
|gossip is rife
|rife among teenagers
Synonyms
widespread (More general and neutral; less strongly negative.)
|
prevalent (Common in a particular place or group; often formal like rife.)
|
rampant (Suggests something bad is growing fast and hard to control.)
Antonyms
rare (Not common or frequent.)
|
scarce (Uncommon and limited in supply or occurrence.)
Themes
society
|news
|problems
Definition
If something bad is rife, it happens in many places or among many people.
Very common and widespread in a place, group, or situation, especially in an unpleasant or worrying way.
C1
FORMAL
2
tele van
A2
Usage pattern:
rife with [something undesirable]
The report was rife with spelling mistakes and incorrect figures.
A jelentés tele volt helyesírási hibákkal és téves adatokkal.
Their argument is rife with contradictions.
Az érvelésük tele van ellentmondásokkal.
The old contract is rife with loopholes.
Learner examples
This essay is rife with errors.
Ez a dolgozat tele van hibákkal.
The website is rife with ads.
A weboldal tele van hirdetésekkel.
Common mistake:
Typically used with "with" (not *rife of*). Usually refers to negative things like errors or fraud.
Meaning
full of something unpleasant
Collocations
rife with errors
|rife with problems
|rife with contradictions
|rife with bias
|rife with corruption
|rife with tension
|rife with bugs
|rife with inaccuracies
|rife with fraud
|rife with rumors
Synonyms
full of (More common and neutral; less formal.)
|
packed with (Often suggests a large amount; can be positive or informal.)
|
laden with (More literary; emphasizes being heavily loaded, often negatively.)
Antonyms
free of (Containing none of the unwanted thing.)
|
clear of (Without problems or mistakes; often used for obstacles or issues.)
Themes
communication
|education
|writing
Definition
If something is rife with a problem, it contains a lot of it.
Full of a particular type of thing, especially something undesirable such as errors, contradictions, or problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rife
IPA
GB/ɹˈaɪf/
US/ɹˈaɪf/
Syllables & stress
rife (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rife)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rife
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.