ride

verb

\ ˈrīd

rode\ ˈrōd

\ or chiefly dialectal rid\ ˈrid

\; ridden\ ˈri-dᵊn

\ or chiefly dialectal rid or rode; riding\ ˈrī-diŋ

Definition of ride

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : 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

3a : 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

5a : 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

7a : to be contingent : depend plans on which the future rides

b : to become bet a lot of money riding on the favorite

transitive verb

1a : to travel on ride a bike ride the bus

b : to move with like a rider ride the waves

2a : 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

6a : 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

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

ride

noun

Definition of ride (Entry 2 of 3)

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

4a : a trip on which gangsters take a victim to murder him

b : something likened to such a trip take the taxpayers 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

Ride

biographical name

\ ˈrīd

Definition of Ride (Entry 3 of 3)

Sally Kristen 1951–2012 American astronaut

Other Words from ride Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ride

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Synonyms for ride

Synonyms: Verb

bait, hassle, haze, heckle, needle, taunt, tease

Synonyms: 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

The company also offers a wilderness train ride, where passengers can ride the longest 24 inch gauge railroad in the country. — Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "All aboard: Experience fall colors on these historic trains in Michigan," 11 Aug. 2019 As the bikers rode through small towns and villages, past churches and statues of the Virgin Mary, there were no cross looks or unkind words from people tending the fields along the way. — Marc Santora, New York Times, "Klezmer Music and Memory at a Festival Celebrating Jewish Life in Poland," 11 Aug. 2019 The Ohio State transfer ranged from serviceable to solid throughout 2018, tossing just five interceptions as the Tigers’ rode their stout defense to an 11–3 campaign. — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "Five QBs Whose Performance Will Make-or-Break Their Team's 2019 Season," 9 Aug. 2019 Riders will begin the rally at 10 a.m. at the San Jacinto Monument and will ride to the Jimmy Burke Activity Center, 500 W 13th St. in Deer Park. — Tyler Johnson, Houston Chronicle, "Motorcycle rally to aid Deer Park rehabilitation facility," 9 Aug. 2019 Or simply ride in the elevator, hit the button, and impersonate an elevator technician who need to know the line's number. — Andy Greenberg, WIRED, "Inside the Hidden World of Elevator Phone Phreaking," 9 Aug. 2019 That series was seen as a clear turning point, and the Cubs went on to win the second NL wild-card spot and ride a wave of emotion until crashing in the National League Championship Series. — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "In Joe Maddon’s ‘win-or-bust’ season, the final 7 weeks could determine his Cubs fate," 9 Aug. 2019 This pink royal carriage is an ideal fit for little royals, while the red Roadster Racers ride-on will make your kid feel like a race car driver. — Joni Sweet, USA TODAY, "Have more fun outdoors in 24 hours with these awesome toys," 8 Aug. 2019 The 90-minute narrated boat ride around Boston Harbor includes a water view of the USS Constitution as the crew fires its cannon and lowers its flag for the nightly sunset ritual. — Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, "5 easy New England getaways before summer ends," 6 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Cheetah Chase is the perfect thrill ride for families. — Chris Sims, Indianapolis Star, "Holiday World's new ride 'Cheetah Chase' to be world's first launched water coaster," 6 Aug. 2019 The winner was a Lyft ride that took 26 minutes, followed by a personal car at 34 minutes. — Oyin Adedoyin, baltimoresun.com, "What’s the fastest way to get to BWI? We sent four reporters by car, Light Rail, bus and Lyft to find out.," 5 Aug. 2019 This 35-square-mile getaway is a five-mile ferry ride from Northport. — Roger Rapoport, Los Angeles Times, "Find powerful theater in Door County, Wisconsin," 3 Aug. 2019 The final leg was a short boat ride to the islands. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Air travel is a huge contributor to climate change. A new global movement wants you to be ashamed to fly.," 1 Aug. 2019 However the abundance of action makes the 136 minute film to be quite a ride — just not a particularly fast one. — Sharareh Drury, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw': What the Critics Are Saying," 31 July 2019 Being a part of the critical years for young adults, and being able to influence a positive trajectory into the rest of their lives has been an exhilarating ride. — oregonlive.com, "Elvis Akpla, former Oregon Ducks wide receiver, resigns as Lakeridge football coach," 31 July 2019 Hold on to your sailor hats, because this isn't going to be an easy ride. — Zoya Ansari And Brian Ries, CNN, "'The Lighthouse' trailer shows Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson's creepy descent into madness," 30 July 2019 The end result is an exceptionally comfortable and enjoyable ride that makes the GoCycle GX suitable to even the longest of commutes. — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, "GoCycle GX e-bike review: fast, fun, and foldable," 29 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ride.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.