rich

/rɪtʃ/

/rɪtʃ/

Other forms: richest; richer

The rich are the wealthy people in society. If you daydream of owning multi-billion dollar corporations and driving around in fancy cars, then you dream of being one of the rich.

Rich is a cognate (meaning a word that sounds the same and means the same) with various of Germanic, Frisian, and Dutch words for "king." Now it tends to be an adjective meaning "abundant." That might be abundant money, as in your rich cousin Henry. A rich sauce is buttery and creamy and delicious. Rich land is fertile and abundant in crops. A rich idea has many possible applications. Rich coffee is full, dark and intense.

Definitions of rich

1. adjective

   possessing material wealth
   “her father is extremely rich”

   “many fond hopes are pinned on rich uncles”

   synonyms:

   abundant, aplenty

   present in great quantity

   privileged

   blessed with privileges

   affluent, flush, loaded, moneyed, wealthy

   having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

   comfortable, easy, prosperous, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-situated, well-to-do

   in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich

   antonyms:

   poor

   having little money or few possessions

   underprivileged

   lacking the rights and advantages of other members of society

   broke, bust, skint, stone-broke, stony-broke

   lacking funds

   destitute, impoverished, indigent, necessitous, needy, poverty-stricken

   poor enough to need help from others

   hard up, impecunious, in straitened circumstances, penniless, penurious, pinched

   not having enough money to pay for necessities

   moneyless

   having no money

   unprovided for

   without income or means
2. adjective

   of great worth or quality
   “a rich collection of antiques”

   synonyms:

   valuable

   having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
3. adjective

   suggestive of or characterized by great expense
   “a rich display”

   synonyms:

   deluxe, gilded, grand, luxurious, opulent, princely, sumptuous

   rich and superior in quality

   extravagant, lavish, lucullan, lush, plush, plushy

   characterized by extravagance and profusion

   antonyms:

   poor

   characterized by or indicating poverty

   beggarly, mean

   marked by poverty befitting a beggar

   slummy

   (of housing or residential areas) indicative of poverty
4. noun

   people who have possessions and wealth (considered as a group)
   “only the very rich benefit from this legislation”

   synonyms: rich people

   antonyms:

   poor

   people without possessions or wealth (considered as a group)

   type of:

   people

   (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
5. adjective

   having an abundant supply of desirable qualities or substances (especially natural resources)
   “blessed with a land rich in minerals”

   “rich in ideas”

   “rich with cultural interest”

   antonyms:

   poor

   lacking in specific resources, qualities or substances

   resourceless

   lacking or deficient in natural resources
6. adjective

   affording an abundant supply
   “a rich supply”

   synonyms: ample, copious, plenteous, plentiful

   abundant, aplenty

   present in great quantity
7. adjective

   very productive
   “rich seams of coal”

   synonyms:

   productive

   producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)
8. adjective

   marked by great fruitfulness
   “rich soil”

   synonyms: fat, fertile, productive

   fruitful

   productive or conducive to producing in abundance
9. adjective

   high in mineral content; having a high proportion of fuel to air
   “"a rich vein of copper", "a rich gas mixture”

   antonyms:

   lean

   lacking in mineral content or combustible material
10. adjective

    marked by richness and fullness of flavor
    “a rich ruby port”

    synonyms: full-bodied, racy, robust

    tasty

    pleasing to the sense of taste
11. adjective

    containing plenty of fat, or eggs, or sugar
    “rich desserts”

    “they kept gorging on rich foods”

    synonyms:

    unwholesome

    detrimental to physical or moral well-being
12. adjective

    strong; intense
    “a rich red”

    synonyms: deep

    colorful, colourful

    having striking color
13. adjective

    pleasantly full and mellow
    “a rich tenor voice”

    synonyms:

    full

    (of sound) having marked deepness and body