rid

¹

[rid]

verb

Archaic.

1. a simple past tense and past participle of ride.

rid

²

[rid]

verb (used with object)

rid, ridded, ridding. 

1. to clear, disencumber, or free of something objectionable (usually followed byof ).

   I want to rid the house of mice. In my opinion, you'd be wise to rid yourself of the smoking habit.

2. to relieve or disembarrass (usually followed byof ).

   to rid the mind of doubt.

3. Archaic.,  to deliver or rescue.

   to rid them out of bondage; to rid him from his enemies.

rid

/ rɪd /

verb

1. (foll by of) to relieve or deliver from something disagreeable or undesirable; make free (of)

   to rid a house of mice

2. to relieve or free oneself of (something or someone unpleasant or undesirable)

Other Word Forms

• ridder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rid¹

1150–1200; Middle English ridden (v.), Old English ( ge ) ryddan to clear (land); cognate with Old Norse rythja to clear, empty

Word History and Origins

Origin of rid¹

C13 (meaning: to clear land): from Old Norse rythja ; related to Old High German riutan to clear land

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be rid of, to be free of or no longer encumbered by.

   to be rid of obligations.

2. get rid of, to eliminate or discard.

   It's time we got rid of this trash.

see get rid of.

Example Sentences

If the owners do decide to get rid of it this time, Sunday will be a major reason why.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But many of the significant changes in classrooms came out of the Legislature, which has continued this year to propose bills to rid schools of “inappropriate materials” and proclaim that, in Oklahoma, “Christ is King.”

Read more on Salon

During her presidential campaign, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris said that if elected, she would get rid of any unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs.

Read more on MarketWatch

Every living creature needs to get rid of waste, and reptiles are no exception.

Read more on Science Daily

A similar “dream of getting rid of the collector as an evil decadent/bourgeois/imperial looter” drove the “iconoclastic wave” that began in the U.S. after the death of George Floyd in 2020.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clear 
• eliminate 
• eradicate 
• liberate 
• purge 
• relieve 
• unload