ride

verb \ ˈrīd \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of ride

rode play \ˈrōd\ or chiefly dialectal rid play \ˈrid\; ridden play \ˈri-dᵊn\ or chiefly dialectal rid or rode; riding play \ˈrī-diŋ\

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

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

6 a : 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

—

rideable

or less commonly ridable play \ˈrī-də-bəl\ adjective

— 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

See ride defined for English-language learners

See ride defined for kids

Examples of ride in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of ride from the Web

Among them were about 40 members of the local Missouri Kansas City Committee to Protect Pensions, who rode to Columbus in a bus.

— edward mckinley, kansascity, "KC union retirees join rally in Ohio for pension fix — or is it a bailout?," 13 July 2018
The two women who rode with Caleb suffered serious injuries and settled claims with Schlitterbahn for an undisclosed amount.

— CBS News, "Verruckt waterslide, where 10-year-old boy died in 2016, to come down, park says," 12 July 2018
Walker has ridden all those targets to 296 receptions the last four years, the second-most among tight ends in that span, behind Kelce.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Fantasy Football Players Who are More Valuable in PPR Leagues," 12 July 2018
Roger moved to Hawaii in the early 1970s and for the next three decades paddled into some of the biggest waves ever ridden on the North Shore.

— jeff johnson, Outside Online, "Jeff Johnson on the First Time He Saved a Life," 11 July 2018
The University of Cambridge is still a cab ride away.

— New York Times, "Silicon Valley’s Giants Take Their Talent Hunt to Cambridge," 3 July 2018
After the final number, Vince offered Mary a ride home; her place was just a straight shot up Archer.

— edward mcclelland, Chicago Reader, "Meet Resurrection Mary, the ghost of Archer Avenue," 26 June 2018
The two had been having an argument Saturday night at home when the son stormed out of the house and rode away on his bicycle.

— steve helling, PEOPLE.com, "Mom Allegedly Opens Fire on Son After Argument: 'I'll Be Damned If I Let Him Have the Last Word'," 20 June 2018
That’s what that wintry ride home from the airport in a ’55 Chevy was all about.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "For Father's Day, reflecting on a dad who improves all that he touches," 15 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of ride

Middle English, from Old English rīdan; akin to Old High German rītan to ride, Middle Irish réidid he rides

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

ride Synonyms

ride

noun

Definition of ride

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 : 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

See ride defined for English-language learners

Examples of ride in a Sentence

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 of ride from the Web

Initially, the group rides were social outings for bike enthusiasts, and the riders weren’t causing trouble, Williams said.

— alexis stevens, ajc, "Police, troopers crack down on dirt bikes, ATVs on Atlanta streets," 12 July 2018
The whole ride has been wild and touching, Gaudynski said.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Here’s how two 'ordinary' Milwaukee-area men created a unique, dual-wheeled bicycle. The next challenge? Trying to sell them.," 11 July 2018
Hornsey was one of Uber’s foremost executives dealing with the allegations of widespread harassment and sexism that rocked the ride-hailing company for most of last year.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Uber senior executive resigns after racial discrimination allegations," 11 July 2018
Previously known as California Screamin’, the ride itself is virtually unchanged.

— arthur levine, USA TODAY, "Disneyland's new Pixar Pier: Is it Incredible?," 10 July 2018
The bumpy ride can be dangerous for competitors, and is where a fall is most likely to happen — dashing hopes of victory.

— gina martinez, Time, "Your Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Tour de France," 6 July 2018
Carnival rides will be open all four days, with some new attractions to be announced, Porch said.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Antioch Taste of Summer includes special needs carnival, sidewalk sales, six headliner bands," 3 July 2018
Uber has said the average Jump ride in San Francisco was 2.6 miles.

— greg bensinger, WSJ, "Lyft Follows Uber by Acquiring Bike-Sharing Startup Motivate," 2 July 2018
So, a ride on this bullet train is well worth it—for foodies and fangirls alike.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "Japan Takes Transportation to the Next Level With a Hello Kitty Bullet Train," 26 June 2018

First Known Use of ride

1708

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

ride Synonyms

Synonyms

lift, transportation;

Related Words

drive, spin, turn;

joyride;

conveyance, passage, transit, transport;

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Ride

biographical name \ ˈrīd \

Definition of Ride

Sally Kristen 1951–2012 American astronaut

RIDE Defined for English Language Learners

ride

verb

Definition of ride for English Language Learners

: to sit on and control the movements of (a horse, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.)
: to travel to a place as a passenger on or in (something that is moving, such as a bus, a train, or an elevator) ( chiefly US )
: to go on a mechanical ride at an amusement park or similar place

ride

noun

Definition of ride for English Language Learners

: a usually short journey in or on a vehicle
: a usually short journey on a horse or other animal
: a large machine at an amusement park, fair, etc., that people ride on for enjoyment

RIDE Defined for Kids

ride

verb \ ˈrīd \

Definition of ride for Students

rode \ˈrōd\; ridden \ˈri-dᵊn\; riding \ˈrī-diŋ\

1 : to travel or move by sitting or standing on or in

I ride the bus.

2 : to sit on and control so as to be carried along

I learned to ride a bicycle.

3 : to be supported or carried on

Surfers rode the waves.

4 : to travel over a surface

The car rides well.

5 : to endure without great harm or damage

We'll ride out the storm.

6 : depend 2

Our hopes are riding on you.

—

rider

\ˈrī-dər\ noun

ride

noun

Definition of ride for Students

1 : a trip on horseback or by vehicle

2 : a mechanical device (as a merry-go-round) that moves around while people sit or stand on it for entertainment

3 : a way of getting from one place to another

She needs a ride to school.

Learn More about ride

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ride Spanish Central: Translation of ride Nglish: Translation of ride for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ride for Arabic speakers

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ride

Definition of ride

rideable

Examples of ride in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ride from the Web

Origin and Etymology of ride

ride Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

ride

Definition of ride

Examples of ride in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ride from the Web

First Known Use of ride

ride Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

Ride

Definition of Ride

RIDE Defined for English Language Learners

ride

Definition of ride for English Language Learners

ride

Definition of ride for English Language Learners

RIDE Defined for Kids

ride

Definition of ride for Students

rider

ride

Definition of ride for Students

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