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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Nutrient-rich foods have also been found to boost brain health. 
Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 In mineral-rich Mali, where Wagner is propping up the government, the firm is negotiating with the regime over concessions for two gold mines. Elisabeth Braw, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 None of that has stopped the tradition-rich Hornets from establishing themselves as one of the best teams in Central Florida this year. Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 This compact hydroponic garden (which comes with six herb seed packets) supplies a nutrient-rich solution directly to a plant’s roots, which will save your recipient from the hassle and mess of growing indoors with soil. Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 Fortunately, the tribe is still very active within the park: members lead tours and host info-rich presentations. Katie Jackson, Outside Online, 6 Sep. 2022 Copper also exists elsewhere in Alaska, including in the mineral-rich Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, geologists say. Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2022 The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment -- better known as MOXIE -- has been successfully making oxygen from Mars' carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere as part of NASA's Perseverance rover mission. Ashley Strickland And Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Not all cholesterol-rich foods are automatically bad for you. Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 In mineral-rich Mali, where Wagner is propping up the government, the firm is negotiating with the regime over concessions for two gold mines. Elisabeth Braw, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 None of that has stopped the tradition-rich Hornets from establishing themselves as one of the best teams in Central Florida this year. Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 This compact hydroponic garden (which comes with six herb seed packets) supplies a nutrient-rich solution directly to a plant’s roots, which will save your recipient from the hassle and mess of growing indoors with soil. Corinne Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 Fortunately, the tribe is still very active within the park: members lead tours and host info-rich presentations. Katie Jackson, Outside Online, 6 Sep. 2022 Copper also exists elsewhere in Alaska, including in the mineral-rich Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, geologists say. Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2022 The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment -- better known as MOXIE -- has been successfully making oxygen from Mars' carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere as part of NASA's Perseverance rover mission. Ashley Strickland And Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Not all cholesterol-rich foods are automatically bad for you. Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
rich
adjective
ˈrich
richer; richest
1
: having a lot of money and possessions : wealthy
rich people
2
: valuable entry 1 sense 1, expensive
rich robes
3
: well supplied : abundant
The city is rich in tradition.
4
: fertile sense 1
rich soil
5
: containing much sugar, fat, or seasoning
rich food
6
: deep and pleasing in color or tone
Biographical Definition
Rich
biographical name
ˈrich
Adrienne Cecile 1929–2012 American poet
rich
adjective
1
as in wealthy
having goods, property, or money in abundance you would have to be quite rich to be able to afford a home in that neighborhood Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- wealthy
- affluent
- opulent
- moneyed
- successful
- prosperous
- well-off
- well-to-do
- monied
- loaded
- well-heeled
- prospering
- fat
- well-endowed
- fat-cat
- comfortable
- well-fixed
- deep-pocketed
- silk-stocking
- privileged
- propertied
- substantial
- thriving
- flush
- in the chips
- blessed
- advantaged
- flourishing
- better-off
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- impoverished
- needy
- destitute
- indigent
- penniless
- impecunious
- penurious
- deprived
- disadvantaged
- underprivileged
- indebted
- poverty-stricken
- bankrupt
- pauperized
- ruined
- unaffluent
- insolvent
- short
- low
- depressed
- beggared
- broke
- reduced
- pinched
- skint
- bankrupted
- hand-to-mouth
- straitened
2
as in fatty
containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar stay away from rich foods before you sing tonight Synonyms & Similar Words
- fatty
- spicy
- greasy
- heavy
- buttery
- oily
- sweet
- fattening
- fat
- creamy
- filling
- calorific
- caloric
- cloying
- sugary
- satiating
- oversweet
- sating
- overfilling
- sauced
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- simple
- natural
- plain
- lite
- diet
- unseasoned
- slimming
- nonfattening
- nonfat
3
as in robust
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) rich wines complemented the meal Synonyms & Similar Words
- robust
- potent
- strong
- concentrated
- big
- full-bodied
- full
- plush
- lusty
- heady
- muscular
- enriched
- heavy
- fortified
- unmixed
- undiluted
- straight
- high-octane
- high-test
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- thin
- weak
- mild
- light
- delicate
- thinned
- weakened
- dilute
- watery
- diluted
- watered-down
4
as in fertile
producing abundantly rich farmland Synonyms & Similar Words
- fertile
- prolific
- lush
- abundant
- fruitful
- productive
- fecund
- luxuriant
- generous
- creative
- plentiful
- inventive
- generative
- bountiful
- fat
- producing
- fructuous
- copious
- liberal
- bearing
- cornucopian
- yielding
- teeming
- plenteous
- thriving
- abounding
- bursting
- original
- flourishing
- blooming
- swarming
- plenitudinous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unproductive
- sterile
- dead
- barren
- sparse
- infertile
- unfertile
- meager
- unfruitful
- scanty
- skimpy
- meagre
- spare
- scant
- skimp
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of rich are affluent, opulent, and wealthy. While all these words 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
The words affluent and rich can be used in similar contexts, but affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.
an affluent society
The words opulent and rich are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.
an opulent mansion
The meanings of wealthy and rich largely overlap; however, wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.
wealthy landowners