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

During a brief intermission between events, members of the audience flooded the track, hoping for a chance to take a joyride on the Thunder monster truck. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

Yesterday, the pair braved New York’s sweltering temps for a joyride in a red-hot Ferrari. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 July 2026

Even now, nearly three decades into his joyride through football, Campos confounds people. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Three boys turned a Waymo ride into a wind-in-their-hair joyride late Friday afternoon in Santa Monica. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for joyride

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

joyride

noun

joy·​ride ˈjoi-ˌrīd 

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

joyrider

-ˌrīd-ər 

noun