rid

¹ American  

[rid] / rɪd /

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.

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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.

rid ² American  

[rid] / rɪd /

verb

Archaic.

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

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rid British  

/ 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)

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rid More Idioms  

1. see get rid of.

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Other Word Forms

• ridder noun

Etymology

Origin of rid

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

Example Sentences

But concentration itself isn’t a source of risk that you need to get rid of.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Overall, I've worn my past with pride rather than seeing it as something to get rid of," he told celebrity site Page Six in 2011.

From Barron's

I don’t blame her for wanting to rid the kitchen of rotting fruit.

From Literature

"We want to get rid of this anti-growth Treasury," Cooper said.

From BBC

So I tried to get rid of some of it before dinnertime by telling Rufus and Lulu about my Out Loud Reading Adventure.

From Literature

Related Words

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