1
: with one leg on each side : astride a horse
she rode astride, not sidesaddle
2
: with the legs stretched wide apart
standing astride
Examples of astride in a Sentence
Preposition
She was sitting astride a horse.
The town lies astride a narrow river.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Bull riders and bareback contestants must stay astride for at least eight seconds in order to be eligible to win and be scored on the quality of their rides.
—New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The presence of radioactive material in such an environment would be alarming, and chronic instability in a country Iran’s size that sits astride important trade routes would pose any number of security challenges.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astride
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Adverb
Over the 20th century, riding astride transformed into a significant cultural symbol for feminists because bonds with horses and dragons became alternative routes for women to gain political power and personal agency.
—Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Bull riders and bareback contestants must stay astride for at least eight seconds in order to be eligible to win and be scored on the quality of their rides.
—New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022
Preposition
There are many older buildings underneath the Santa Monica fault, and buildings that sit astride it are at risk of complete collapse.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The presence of radioactive material in such an environment would be alarming, and chronic instability in a country Iran’s size that sits astride important trade routes would pose any number of security challenges.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astride
Cite this Entry
“Astride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astride. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
astride
1 of 2 adverb
: with one leg on each side
astride
2 of 2 preposition
: on or above and with one leg on each side of
astride a horse
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