rich

[ rich ]

/ rɪtʃ /

adjective, rich·er, rich·est.

having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy: a rich man; a rich nation.

abounding in natural resources: a rich territory.

having wealth or valuable resources (usually followed by in): a country rich in traditions.

abounding (usually followed by in or with): a countryside rich in beauty; a design rich with colors.

of great value or worth; valuable: a rich harvest.

(of food) delectably and perhaps unhealthfully spicy, or sweet and abounding in butter or cream: a rich gravy; a rich pastry.

costly, expensively elegant, or fine, as dress or jewels.

sumptuous; elaborately abundant: a rich feast.

using valuable materials or characterized by elaborate workmanship, as buildings or furniture.

abounding in desirable elements or qualities: a man rich in kindness.

(of wine) strong and finely flavored.

(of color) deep, strong, or vivid: rich purple.

full and mellow in tone: rich sounds; a rich voice.

strongly fragrant; pungent: a rich odor.

producing or yielding abundantly: a rich soil.

abundant, plentiful, or ample: a rich supply.

Automotive. (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively high ratio of fuel to air (contrasted with lean²def 5).

Informal.

highly amusing.
ridiculous; absurd.

noun

(used with a plural verb) rich persons collectively (usually preceded by the): new tax shelters for the rich.

Origin of rich

before 900; Middle English; Old English rīce (adj.) ≪ Celtic; cognate with German reich wealthy; akin to Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājan king

SYNONYMS FOR rich

1 well-to-do, moneyed. Rich, wealthy, affluent all indicate abundance of possessions. Rich is the general word; it may imply that possessions are newly acquired: an oilman who became rich overnight. Wealthy suggests permanence, stability, and appropriate surroundings: a wealthy banker. Affluent usually suggests a generous amount of income, with a high standard of living and some social prestige and privilege: an affluent family.

5 bountiful, copious, luxuriant.

7 precious, high-priced, dear.

12 intense, vibrant.

14 aromatic.

15 fruitful, productive, prolific, luxuriant.

16 bountiful, copious, abounding, bounteous.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rich ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR rich

1–5, 15, 16 poor.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR rich ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM rich

rich·ly, adverb rich·ness, noun o·ver·rich, adjective o·ver·rich·ly, adverb

o·ver·rich·ness, noun su·per·rich, adjective, noun ul·tra·rich, adjective, noun

Words nearby rich

ricebird, ricer, ricercar, ricercare, ricey, rich, rich as croesus, rich rhyme, richard, richard coeur de lion, richard i

Definition for rich (2 of 3)

Rich

[ rich ]

/ rɪtʃ /

noun

Adrienne,1929–2012, U.S. poet and feminist.

a male given name, form of Richard.

Definition for rich (3 of 3)

riches

[ rich-iz ]

/ ˈrɪtʃ ɪz /

plural noun

abundant and valuable possessions; wealth.

Origin of riches

1175–1225; Middle English, plural of Middle English riche wealth, power (Old English rīce power, rule; cognate with German Reich realm); confused with Middle English richesse wealth < Old French, equivalent to riche wealthy (< Germanic; see rich) + -esse -ess

Example sentences from the Web for rich

Liberal Democrats like to blow their bugles about how all the big money in politics comes from rich Republicans.

The 100 Rich People Who Run America |Mark McKinnon |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Since then, the rising gap between the rich and middle- and lower-income families has risen to the fore.

Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy |Monica Potts |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
The issue of authenticity in American hip-hop is rich and nuanced.

The Cultural Crimes of Iggy Azalea |Amy Zimmerman |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Reconcile is a rapper from Houston, a city with a rich hip-hop legacy.

Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet |Stereo Williams |December 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Be reliable supports of the Songun revolution possessed of a lofty spirit and rich knowledge!

North Korea's Top College: Brainwash U |Justin Rohrlich |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He had supposed that a rich man's son, because he was a rich man's son, always had all the money he wanted.

'As Gold in the Furnace' |John E. Copus
The young idlers of rich Palermo intrigued to be introduced to her and threw enormous nosegays to her at the end of every act.

Corleone |F. Marion Crawford
He is rich enough to buy it, nay he has Plenty of it, tho' he hardly ever touches it, when he is by himself.

A Letter to Dion |Bernard Mandeville
He was convinced that he ought to join them, and did so in spite of the ridicule of his rich and titled friends.

The Story of American History |Albert F. Blaisdell
To be sure there was generally quite a crowd of them, for the rich gentlemen often have several wives.

A Missionary Twig |Emma L. Burnett

British Dictionary definitions for rich (1 of 3)

rich

/ (rɪtʃ) /

adjective

well supplied with wealth, property, etc; owning much
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the rich

(when postpositive , usually foll by in) having an abundance of natural resources, minerals, etc a land rich in metals

producing abundantly; fertile rich soil

(when postpositive , usually foll by in or with) well supplied (with desirable qualities); abundant (in) a country rich with cultural interest

of great worth or quality; valuable a rich collection of antiques

luxuriant or prolific a rich growth of weeds

expensively elegant, elaborate, or fine; costly a rich display

(of food) having a large proportion of flavoursome or fatty ingredients, such as spices, butter, or cream

having a full-bodied flavour a rich ruby port

(of a smell) pungent or fragrant

(of colour) intense or vivid; deep a rich red

(of sound or a voice) full, mellow, or resonant

(of a fuel-air mixture) containing a relatively high proportion of fuel Compare weak (def. 12)

very amusing, laughable, or ridiculous a rich joke; a rich situation

noun

See riches

Word Origin for rich

Old English rīce (originally of persons: great, mighty), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Celtic (compare Old Irish rī king)

British Dictionary definitions for rich (2 of 3)

Rich

/ (rɪtʃ) /

noun

Adrienne. 1929–2012, US poet and feminist writer; her volumes of poetry include Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law (1963) and Diving Into the Wreck (1973)

Buddy, real name Bernard Rich . 1917–87, US jazz drummer and band leader

British Dictionary definitions for rich (3 of 3)

riches

/ (ˈrɪtʃɪz) /

pl n

wealth; an abundance of money, valuable possessions, or property

Idioms and Phrases with rich

rich

In addition to the idiom beginning with rich

rich as Croesus

also see:

embarrassment of riches
from rags to riches
strike it rich

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rich

adjective, rich·er, rich·est.

noun

Origin of rich

SYNONYMS FOR rich

ANTONYMS FOR rich

OTHER WORDS FROM rich

Words nearby rich

Definition for rich (2 of 3)

noun

Definition for rich (3 of 3)

plural noun

Origin of riches

Example sentences from the Web for rich

British Dictionary definitions for rich (1 of 3)

adjective

noun

Word Origin for rich

British Dictionary definitions for rich (2 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for rich (3 of 3)

pl n

Idioms and Phrases with rich

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rich

adjective, rich·er, rich·est.

noun

Origin of rich

SYNONYMS FOR rich

ANTONYMS FOR rich

OTHER WORDS FROM rich

Words nearby rich

Definition for rich (2 of 3)

noun

Definition for rich (3 of 3)

plural noun

Origin of riches

Words related to rich

Example sentences from the Web for rich

British Dictionary definitions for rich (1 of 3)

adjective

noun

Word Origin for rich

British Dictionary definitions for rich (2 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for rich (3 of 3)

pl n

Idioms and Phrases with rich