bestride

verb

be·​stride bi-ˈstrīd How to pronounce bestride (audio)
bē-
bestrode bi-ˈstrōd How to pronounce bestride (audio)
bē-
; bestridden bi-ˈstri-dᵊn How to pronounce bestride (audio)
bē-
; bestriding bi-ˈstrī-diŋ How to pronounce bestride (audio)
bē-

transitive verb

1
: to ride, sit, or stand astride : straddle
2
: to tower over : dominate
the bloated bureaucracy that bestrides us allEdward Ney
3
archaic : to stride across

Examples of bestride in a Sentence

a giant that bestrode the river
Recent Examples on the Web Humanity bestrides the planet, explores the cosmos, and continues to reshape itself because humans are the world’s most inventive, adaptable animal. Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024 Mariachi Nuevo Santander from Roma High School in Roma, Texas traditionally bestrides the match-ups like a colossus, sporting flashy attire and impressive musicianship. Joe Leydon, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024 In a unipolar world, Washington might have been able to be all things in all regions, like a colossus bestriding the world, but this is wholly untenable in an era of great-power competition. Elbridge Colby, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other Brexiteers like to think of the United Kingdom as that lone actor, bestriding the international stage. David Reynolds, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2020 See all Example Sentences for bestride 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bestride.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bestride was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bestride

Cite this Entry

“Bestride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bestride. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

bestride

verb
be·​stride bi-ˈstrīd How to pronounce bestride (audio)
bestrode -ˈstrōd How to pronounce bestride (audio) ; bestridden -ˈstrid-ən How to pronounce bestride (audio) ; bestriding -ˈstrīd-iŋ How to pronounce bestride (audio)
: to ride, sit, or stand with one leg on each side of

More from Merriam-Webster on bestride

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