joyride

noun

joy·​ride ˈjȯi-ˌrīd 

1

: a ride taken for pleasure (as in a car or aircraft)

especially : an automobile ride marked by reckless driving (as in a stolen car)

2

: conduct or action resembling a joyride especially in disregard of cost or consequences

joyride intransitive verb

joyrider

ˈjȯi-ˌrī-dər 

noun

joyriding noun

Examples of joyride in a Sentence

Some teenager stole my car and took it for a joyride.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pete Docter recalled stealing one of his co-workers cars and taking it for a joyride. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024

Leonard Slatkin, Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director laureate, returns to Detroit this weekend for a musical joyride with the orchestra. —Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024

Drew’s Joker the Harlequin seizes the means of production and takes them on a joyride through all that is sacred to nerds. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024

Mixing social commentary with popcorn entertainment, Sliders is a joyride through infinite Earths. —Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

joyride

noun

joy·​ride ˈjoi-ˌrīd 

: a ride taken for pleasure and often marked by reckless driving

joyrider

-ˌrīd-ər 

noun