This adjective means something is very common or happens a lot. It is often used for bad or negative things. When something is rife, it fills a place or situation.
Rumors are rife in the school now.
Crime is rife in the city center.
‘Rife’ can also mean full of or having a lot of something. This meaning shows there is much of a particular thing in a place or situation.
The garden was rife with flowers.
Her speech was rife with pride.
Historically, 'rife' was a variant or old spelling for the word 'rifle,' which is a long gun. This use is very rare today and is mostly found in old texts or dialects.
He carried a rife during the battle.
The soldier cleaned his rife carefully.
As a verb, 'rife' means to spread or flow freely without control. This use is very rare and old-fashioned. You might see it in historical or literary texts.
Tensions rife throughout the town.
Corruption rife quickly in old regimes.
