rich
gb/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/ us/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Having a lot of money
Having a lot of money or things worth much money.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is rich
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rich' (money) with 'delicious' when describing food; use 'tasty' for food flavor unless referring to richness in texture or taste.
Synonyms
wealthy (Slightly more formal and often used in writing.)
Antonyms
poor (Lacking money or basic resources.)
Collocations
rich and famous
|extremely rich
|rich businessman
|rich family
Themes
business
|daily life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She became rich after selling her company.
- Many rich people live in that neighborhood.
- He was born into a rich family.
- The rich businessman donated millions to charity.
Learner examples
- She is rich.
- He is a rich man.
- They are rich now.
- My uncle is rich.
adjective
B1
property
2
Containing much of something valuable
Having a lot of something good inside it, like vitamins, color, or taste.
Usage pattern:
[something] is rich in [substance]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'full of' instead of 'rich in'; while similar, 'rich in' is more idiomatic for nutrients and qualities.
Synonyms
abundant (General term for being present in large amounts; less specific to quality.)
Antonyms
poor (Used to describe something lacking a quality or substance, e.g., 'poor soil'.)
Collocations
rich in flavor
|rich soil
|rich in vitamins
Themes
food
|science
|food_drink
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This cake is very rich in flavor.
- The region has rich soil perfect for farming.
- Spinach is rich in iron.
- The sauce has a rich, creamy texture.
Learner examples
- Milk is rich in calcium.
- The soup is rich in taste.
- The land is rich in oil.
- This fruit is rich in vitamin C.
adjective
B2
property
3
Deep and strong in color or sound
Having a strong and pleasant color, sound, or smell.
Usage pattern:
[something] has a rich [color/sound/smell]
Synonyms
vivid (More about brightness and clarity of color.)
Antonyms
dull (Lacking brightness, depth, or intensity.)
Collocations
rich voice
|rich red color
|rich aroma
Themes
arts
|sensory
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The wine has a rich aroma.
- Her voice was warm and rich.
- The painting uses rich shades of blue.
- The coffee's rich smell filled the room.
Learner examples
- The soup has a rich smell.
- He has a rich voice.
- The dress is a rich red color.
- I love the rich sound of the piano.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
Amusingly ironic or hypocritical
Said when something someone does is funny because it is not what you expect from them.
Usage pattern:
'That's rich' [when reacting to irony]
Synonyms
ironic (More formal term for expressing the opposite of what is expected.)
Themes
humor
|communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You telling me to be punctual—that’s rich!
- That's rich coming from you after what you did.
- He said I should save money—that's rich!
Learner examples
- You say I talk too much? That’s rich!
- He says I am lazy? That’s rich!
Grammar
Dictionary form
rich
IPA
GB/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
US/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
rich (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rich)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rich
- Comparative: richer
- Superlative: richest
Word family
Expressions
rich in history
1/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ ˈɪn hˈɪstɚi/
fixed phrase
Full of historical significance
Having many interesting things from the past.
Examples
- The city is rich in history and culture.
- This region is rich in history dating back centuries.
that's rich
1/ðˈæts ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
informal
Amusingly hypocritical remark
Said when someone criticizes you for something they also do.
Examples
- You say I’m late? That’s rich!
- She tells me to relax—that’s rich coming from her.
filthy rich
1/fˈɪlθi ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
informal
extremely rich person
Very, very rich; having much more money than most people.
Examples
- After that app went viral, the creators became filthy rich.
- Only the filthy rich can afford to live in that part of town.
- He jokes that marrying her would be a good idea because her family is filthy rich.
filthy rich
2/fˈɪlθi ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
informal
Extremely wealthy person
Having a lot more money than most people.
Examples
- They became filthy rich after winning the lottery.
- He’s filthy rich but still drives an old car.