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.
Recent Examples on the WebRyan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
One day, during construction, Bell’s brother, who was 8 or 9 at the time, was riding bikes with his friends around the building site.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
One day in 1993, Stephen Breyer, then the chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which sits in Boston, was riding his bicycle in Harvard Square when he was hit by a car.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The new policy, approved by the agency’s board of directors this week, applies to passengers who are entering or leaving a station, riding in a SamTrans, Redi-Wheels, RediCoast or Ride Plus vehicle or waiting at a SamTrans bus stop.
—Kristin J. Bender, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Hell, go back to The Witcher 3 for another game that would have been a huge slog without Roach to ride around on.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
His teacher, Liudmyla Demchenko, often rides the bus with him and the other second-graders.
—Claire Harbage, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Benigno rides a stand-up bike because of his back surgery 12 years ago.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Millions of Americans like Adam Garber and his 5-year-old daughter ride a bus to work and school.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The ride is smooth and quiet, even over rough surfaces.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
Rates: From $399 per night Resort Fee: The daily amenity fee of $20 covers WiFi; self-serve candy station; $20 daily credit per room to Fire Restaurant & Lounge; complimentary ride in the house car within two-mile radius (though some destinations may be excluded).
—Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
The four-seat ride uses mechanical arms to lift guests beyond the 22-deck ship’s edge, where they are propelled back and forth.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
The dark ride uses a vehicle mechanism in which riders legs dangle below them in order to simulate flying.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
But they were raised in another world, a 36-hour ferry ride away.
—Maahil Mohamed Elke Scholiers, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Colman drove herself from London to and from the Sussex set a couple of hours away in the aforementioned filthy family van, with Buckley often jumping in for the ride.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Barnes said, referring to the classic Disneyland ride.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
The unmissable addition to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride?
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
One day, during construction, Bell’s brother, who was 8 or 9 at the time, was riding bikes with his friends around the building site.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
One day in 1993, Stephen Breyer, then the chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which sits in Boston, was riding his bicycle in Harvard Square when he was hit by a car.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The new policy, approved by the agency’s board of directors this week, applies to passengers who are entering or leaving a station, riding in a SamTrans, Redi-Wheels, RediCoast or Ride Plus vehicle or waiting at a SamTrans bus stop.
—Kristin J. Bender, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Hell, go back to The Witcher 3 for another game that would have been a huge slog without Roach to ride around on.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
His teacher, Liudmyla Demchenko, often rides the bus with him and the other second-graders.
—Claire Harbage, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Benigno rides a stand-up bike because of his back surgery 12 years ago.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Millions of Americans like Adam Garber and his 5-year-old daughter ride a bus to work and school.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
Four Disneyland rides, including the Incredicoaster and Matterhorn Bobsleds, will be temporarily closing down in the coming weeks as part of the theme park’s regular maintenance.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The ride is smooth and quiet, even over rough surfaces.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
Rates: From $399 per night Resort Fee: The daily amenity fee of $20 covers WiFi; self-serve candy station; $20 daily credit per room to Fire Restaurant & Lounge; complimentary ride in the house car within two-mile radius (though some destinations may be excluded).
—Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
The four-seat ride uses mechanical arms to lift guests beyond the 22-deck ship’s edge, where they are propelled back and forth.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
The dark ride uses a vehicle mechanism in which riders legs dangle below them in order to simulate flying.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
But they were raised in another world, a 36-hour ferry ride away.
—Maahil Mohamed Elke Scholiers, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Colman drove herself from London to and from the Sussex set a couple of hours away in the aforementioned filthy family van, with Buckley often jumping in for the ride.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Barnes said, referring to the classic Disneyland ride.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
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 16 Apr. 2024.
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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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