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
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
4
: to traverse on horseback to inspect or maintain
ride fence
5
: to mount in copulation
—used of a male animal
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
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
Gwyn Evans5
: 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
Andrew Liszewski 6
: the qualities of travel comfort in a vehicle
Synonyms
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebAbigail Adams, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023
When the weather cools and the air turns crisp, take a drive up to the Blue Ridge Mountains, ride along the Natchez Parkway from Mississippi to Tennessee, and admire the changing leaves of the sprawling Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2023
Avoid using a carrier for things like riding on a scooter or motorcycle, as well as with dogs that show signs of discomfort when inside.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
Video shows the pair riding through the festival in a black SUV.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2023
Advertisement California is about to be hit by an aging population wave, and Steve Lopez is riding it.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023
The visual ends with a contemplative Shakira staring into the camera while riding a horse and sporting an all-red outfit.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2023
This allows the rider to lower the bike when coming to a stop or while riding at low speeds by reducing the suspension preload.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
Diplo also shared a video of him and Rock, 58, riding in the back of a truck through the desert with several others.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 3 Sep. 2023
Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And when the ride started up again, Parkhouse told the CBC that riders couldn’t immediately get off.
—Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
For a truly Canadian experience, take a ride on Au 1884 (aka the Dufferin Terrace Toboggan Slide), one of Quebec City's oldest attractions.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2023
Zach Bryan — whose work swings from rock, roots, folk, Americana, country, and beyond — has delivered yet another soulful compilation, this time bringing on Bon Iver and Noah Kahan for the ride.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
Brightline will make the trip in three and a half hours, about 30 minutes faster than the average car ride, reaching speeds of 125 miles per hour.
—Niraj Chokshi, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The highest daily ridership of the pandemic era occurred Wednesday, with 446,000 trips — more than 65 percent of the average number of weekday rides in September 2019.
—Michael Laris, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
In addition, the UAE outfit’s proprietary Wingman management system automatically adjusts the foils on the fly to improve the ride.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
Children under 3 years of age are free, and all guests 3 and older must have either a ride bracelet or a gate admission ticket to enter the park during the event.
—oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023
See More
Verb
Tears of feeling the pain of riding the bike back and forth.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023
When the weather cools and the air turns crisp, take a drive up to the Blue Ridge Mountains, ride along the Natchez Parkway from Mississippi to Tennessee, and admire the changing leaves of the sprawling Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2023
Avoid using a carrier for things like riding on a scooter or motorcycle, as well as with dogs that show signs of discomfort when inside.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
Video shows the pair riding through the festival in a black SUV.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2023
Advertisement California is about to be hit by an aging population wave, and Steve Lopez is riding it.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023
The visual ends with a contemplative Shakira staring into the camera while riding a horse and sporting an all-red outfit.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2023
This allows the rider to lower the bike when coming to a stop or while riding at low speeds by reducing the suspension preload.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
Diplo also shared a video of him and Rock, 58, riding in the back of a truck through the desert with several others.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 3 Sep. 2023
Noun
The Malibu Triathlon typically features a long bike ride from Zuma Beach north to Leo Carrillo State Park.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And when the ride started up again, Parkhouse told the CBC that riders couldn’t immediately get off.
—Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
For a truly Canadian experience, take a ride on Au 1884 (aka the Dufferin Terrace Toboggan Slide), one of Quebec City's oldest attractions.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2023
Zach Bryan — whose work swings from rock, roots, folk, Americana, country, and beyond — has delivered yet another soulful compilation, this time bringing on Bon Iver and Noah Kahan for the ride.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
Brightline will make the trip in three and a half hours, about 30 minutes faster than the average car ride, reaching speeds of 125 miles per hour.
—Niraj Chokshi, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The highest daily ridership of the pandemic era occurred Wednesday, with 446,000 trips — more than 65 percent of the average number of weekday rides in September 2019.
—Michael Laris, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
In addition, the UAE outfit’s proprietary Wingman management system automatically adjusts the foils on the fly to improve the ride.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
Children under 3 years of age are free, and all guests 3 and older must have either a ride bracelet or a gate admission ticket to enter the park during the event.
—oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ride.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of ride was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing ride
Dictionary Entries Near ride
Cite this Entry
“Ride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ride. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
ride
1 of 2 verb1
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
b
: oppress sense 2
ridden by fears
5
: to depend on something
ride
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on ride
Nglish: Translation of ride for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ride for Arabic Speakers
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