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Meaning & use

rich

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/rɪtʃ/
US/rɪtʃ/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Owning a lot of money, property or other valuable things.

    Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a verb; the rich means rich people.

    Patterns

    • rich in something
    • get rich

    She became rich after selling her company.

    Rich families can afford private tutors.

    He wants to get rich quickly.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Containing a large amount of something useful or good.

    Grammar: Usually followed by in: rich in vitamins.

    Patterns

    • rich in something

    Spinach is rich in iron.

    The region is rich in oil.

    The city has a rich history.

  3. adjectivecomparable

    Strong, deep and pleasing in flavor, color or sound, or heavy with cream, butter or sugar.

    Grammar: Describes sensory qualities: a rich sauce, a rich voice.

    Patterns

    • a rich flavor

    The cake was too rich for me to finish.

    The wall was painted a rich red.

    He has a rich, warm voice.

  4. adjectivecomparable

    Full of nutrients so that plants grow well.

    Grammar: Used of soil, land or earth.

    Patterns

    • rich soil

    The river deposits rich soil on the plain.

    Rich earth makes the garden thrive.

    Farmers prize the rich land near the delta.

Word forms

comparativericher
superlativerichest

Common combinations

filthy rich
He made a fortune and became filthy rich.
rich in nutrients
Lentils are rich in nutrients.
a rich diet
A rich diet can upset your stomach.
rich and famous
She dreamed of being rich and famous.
a rich history
The town has a rich history.

Synonyms and how they differ

wealthy
Wealthy is more formal and suggests long-term, stable riches, while rich is more general.
affluent
Affluent is formal and often describes whole neighborhoods or societies.
well-off
Well-off is milder and means comfortable rather than very rich.
loaded
Loaded is slang for having a lot of money.

Opposites

poorplain

Word family

riches noun
great wealth
richness noun
the quality of being rich
richly adverb
in a rich way
enrich verb
to make richer or better

Commonly confused: rich or wealthy?

rich vs wealthy

Wealthy mostly refers to money, whereas rich also describes food, colors and soil.

Practice

Oranges are rich ___ vitamin C.

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