rich

adjective

ˈrich 

1

: having abundant possessions and especially material wealth

2

a

: having high value or quality

b

: well supplied or endowed

a city rich in traditions

3

: magnificently impressive : sumptuous

4

a

: vivid and deep in color

a rich red

b

: full and mellow in tone and quality

a rich voice

c

: having a strong fragrance

rich perfumes

5

: highly productive or remunerative

a rich mine

6

a

: having abundant plant nutrients

rich soil

b

: highly seasoned, fatty, oily, or sweet

rich foods

c

: high in the combustible component

a rich fuel mixture

d

: high in some component

cholesterol-rich foods

7

a

: entertaining

also : laughable

b

: meaningful, significant

rich allusions

c

: lush

rich meadows

8

: pure or nearly pure

rich lime

richness noun

Synonyms

• affluent
• deep-pocketed
• fat
• fat-cat
• flush
• loaded
• moneyed
• monied
• opulent
• silk-stocking
• wealthy
• well-endowed
• well-fixed
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do

Choose the Right Synonym for rich

rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent mean having goods, property, and money in abundance.

rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

Examples of rich in a Sentence

Her investments have made her rich.

The dictionary is a rich source of information.

a rich and spicy soup

The food was a little too rich for me.

Their country has a rich cultural heritage.

This area has a rich history.

She has a rich vocabulary.

Recent Examples on the Web

The moment is at once rich with relief and freighted with ominousness: Lady Liberty is filmed upside down. —Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024

A little salt balances the sweetness, and chocolate is rich, pleasantly, bitter, sweet and decadent. —Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024

Its rich, thick formula feels weightless on the skin, providing deep hydration without any heavy sensation. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024

Musk, the world’s richest man and an omnipresent figure in Trump’s planning for a return to power, is to most objective observers far from a neutral player in the deep-pocketed intersection of government and private partners. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English riche, from Old English rīce; akin to Old High German rīhhi rich, Old English rīce kingdom, Old High German rīhhi, noun; all from prehistoric Germanic words borrowed from Celtic words akin to Old Irish rí (genitive ríg) king — more at royal

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rich

• filthy rich
• get rich quick
• idle rich
• stinking rich
• strike it rich
• the rich

Kids Definition

rich

adjective

ˈrich 

1

: having great wealth : wealthy

2

a

: having high value

a rich harvest

b

: costly sense 1, valuable

rich robes

3

a

: having a large supply of some usually desirable quality or thing

a land rich in resources

b

: of pleasingly strong odor

rich perfumes

c

: very productive : fruitful, fertile

a rich mine

rich soils

d

: containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar

rich food

e

: high in fuel content

a rich mixture

4

a

: vivid and deep in color

rich red

b

: full and mellow in tone and quality

rich voice

5

: very amusing

a play with many rich lines

richness noun

Biographical Definition

Rich

biographical name

ˈrich 

Adrienne Cecile 1929–2012 American poet