ride

1 of 2

verb

ˈrīd 

rode ˈrōd  or chiefly dialectal rid ˈrid  ; ridden ˈri-dᵊn  or chiefly dialectal rid or rode; riding ˈrī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to sit and travel on the back of an animal that one directs

b

: to travel in or on a conveyance

2

: to travel as if on a conveyance : be borne

rode on a wave of popularity

3

a

: to lie moored or anchored

a ship rides at anchor

b

: sail

c

: to move like a floating object

the moon rode in the sky

4

: to become supported on a point or surface

5

a

: to travel over a surface

the car rides well

b

: to move on the body

shorts that ride up

6

: to continue without interference

let it ride

7

a

: to be contingent : depend

plans on which the future rides

b

: to become bet

a lot of money riding on the favorite

transitive verb

1

a

: to travel on

ride a bike

ride the bus

b

: to move with like a rider

ride the waves

2

a

: to traverse by conveyance

rode 500 miles

b

: to ride a horse in

ride a race

3

: survive, outlast

—usually used with out

rode out the gale

4

: to traverse on horseback to inspect or maintain

ride fence

5

: to mount in copulation

—used of a male animal

6

a

: obsess, oppress

ridden by anxiety

b

: to harass persistently : nag

c

: tease, rib

7

: carry, convey

8

: to project over : overlap

9

: to give with (a punch) to soften the impact

10

: to keep in partial engagement by resting a foot continuously on the pedal

ride the brakes

rideable adjective

or less commonly ridable

ˈrī-də-bəl 

ride

2 of 2

noun

plural rides

1

: an act of riding

especially : a trip on horseback or by vehicle

2

: a way (such as a road or path) suitable for riding

3

: any of various mechanical devices (as at an amusement park) for riding on

4

: a trip on which gangsters take a victim to murder him

Symphony shivered. He had heard in Pentonville what "going for a little ride" meant in American crook circles.

—Gwyn Evans

see also take for a ride

5

: a means of transportation

especially, informal : one's personal vehicle

… buying himself a 1964 Buick Riviera and then posing with his new ride on the studio's backlot.

—Andrew Liszewski

6

: the qualities of travel comfort in a vehicle

Phrases

ride circuit

: to hold court in the various towns of a judicial circuit

ride for a fall

: to court disaster

ride herd on

: to keep a check on : supervise

ride high

: to experience success

ride shotgun

: to ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle

Synonyms

Verb

• bait
• hassle
• haze
• heckle
• needle
• taunt
• tease

Noun

• lift
• transportation

Examples of ride in a Sentence

Verb

She learned how to ride a horse when she was young.

Most children learn to ride a bicycle at an early age.

He rides his motorcycle to work every day.

I never rode on a horse before.

She got on her bicycle and rode away.

He decided to walk to the movies instead of riding the bus.

She rides the subway home from school.

They rode the elevator to the second floor.

We rode through the park in a horse-drawn carriage.

The dog rode in the back of the truck.

Noun

We went for a ride in the country.

I had my first ride in a limousine.

I need a ride to work.

She caught a ride with her coworker.

We went on a horseback ride.

The kids had a ride on a horse.

They offered pony rides at the fair.

The Ferris wheel is my favorite ride.

We went for a ride on the roller coaster.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This on-sale pair of riding boots is the perfect example of putting a Western spin on a classic look, and they can still be worn beneath dresses or pants without the danger of overcommitting to the theme. —Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024

The film follows the personal and professional life of Reeve before and after the near-fatal horseback riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024

Noun

Words fail to really capture the unique, harrowing ride that is seeing the horrors of the 1960s Florida reform school the two young protagonists are trapped in, quite literally through their eyes. —Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024

From dazzling light displays to street markets featuring a wide variety of homemade crafts and food, along with holiday trolley rides and musical shows, the following small towns are serving up a genuine Hallmark holiday experience. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English rīdan; akin to Old High German rītan to ride, Middle Irish réidid he rides

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ride

• along for the ride
• came/went along for the ride
• freedom ride
• free ride
• hitch a ride
• let (something) ride
• park and ride
• piggyback ride
• ride a/the wave of
• ride on (something or someone)
• ride out
• ride out the storm
• ride roughshod
• ride share
• ride sharing
• ride up
• take for a ride
• thrill ride

Kids Definition

ride

1 of 2 verb

ˈrīd 

rode ˈrōd  ; ridden ˈrid-ᵊn  ; riding ˈrīd-iŋ 

1

a

: to go or be carried along on an animal's back or on or in a vehicle (as a boat, automobile, or airplane)

b

: to sit on and control so as to be carried along

ride a bicycle

2

a

: to be supported and usually carried along by

a surfboard rides the waves

b

: to float at anchor

c

: to remain afloat through : survive

ride out a storm

3

a

: carry entry 1 sense 1

rode the child on my back

b

: to travel over a surface

the car rides well

4

a

: tease entry 1 sense 2a

b

: oppress sense 2

ridden by fears

5

: to depend on something

ride

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of riding

especially : a trip on horseback or by vehicle

a ride in the country

2

: a mechanical device (as at an amusement park) for riding on

3

: a means of transportation

needs a ride to work

Biographical Definition

Ride

biographical name

ˈrīd 

Sally Kristen 1951–2012 American astronaut