English Reference
adverb

richly

adv.
US /ˈɹɪtʃɫi/ UK /ɹˈɪtʃli/ rich·ly

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    in a way that looks expensive, beautiful, or high quality.

    in an elaborate, expensive, or luxurious manner, often involving high-quality materials or decoration.

    Simple

    The old palace was richly decorated with gold and silk.

    In context

    The ballroom was richly appointed with velvet draperies and crystal chandeliers that reflected the soft glow of the candlelight.

    luxuriouslylavishlysumptuously
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    having a lot of detail, color, or deep meaning.

    in a way that is full of expression, detail, or deep color.

    Simple

    The author richly describes the sights and sounds of the city.

    In context

    The sunset was richly colored with deep purples and oranges, creating a dramatic backdrop for the mountain range.

    faintlydully
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    completely or fully, especially when talking about something someone deserves.

    thoroughly or fully; frequently used to modify verbs like 'deserve' to indicate complete justification.

    Simple

    After all her hard work, she richly deserved the promotion.

    In context

    The team's victory was richly deserved after they spent months training harder than any of their competitors.


Inherited from Middle English richely, from Old English rīċlīċe, from Proto-West Germanic rīkīlīkō, from Proto-Germanic rīkijalīkô; by surface analysis, rich + -ly (adverbial suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *rīkijalīkô
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated