riding

1 of 3

noun (1)

rid·​ing ˈrī-diŋ How to pronounce riding (audio)
Synonyms of ridingnext
: the action or state of one that rides

riding

2 of 3

adjective

1
: used for or when riding
a riding horse
riding boots
2
: operated by a rider
a riding mower

riding

3 of 3

noun (2)

ri·​ding ˈrī-diŋ How to pronounce riding (audio)
1
: one of the three administrative jurisdictions into which Yorkshire, England, was formerly divided
2
: an administrative jurisdiction or electoral district in a British dominion (such as Canada)

Examples of riding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The 16-year-old girl, identified as Adasyn Wood Savin, hailed from Newcastle, New South Wales and was visiting Rosebury during the school holiday and riding in the ATV with a family friend, according to the donation page. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026 Four winners serve the autism community with a new emergency alert police registry, an annual rodeo, and the expansion of a riding and horsemanship program. Sharon Chin, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 Known as the North American birthplace of inbound extreme skiing and riding, Crested Butte boasts more than 560 acres of expert terrain. Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026 Flaherty and Waffles didn’t win the mustang competitions — made up of the hands on, pattern riding, trail and for the top 10 finishes the freestyle classes. Chris Torres, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for riding

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English -redying or trithing, alteration of Old English *thriding, from Old Norse thrithjungr third part, from thrithi third; akin to Old English thridda third — more at third entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of riding was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Riding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riding. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

riding

adjective
rid·​ing
ˈrīd-iŋ
1
: used for or when riding
riding boots
2
: operated by a rider
a riding mower

More from Merriam-Webster on riding

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