rid

¹

[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

²

[rid]

verb

Archaic.

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

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

Inside my own finance team, AI lets us get rid of a lot of the more mundane, backward-looking, analysis type jobs, and we’re moving people much more quickly into an insight job.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The offside rule was a widely-debated topic, with fans wanting to either tweak the law, or get rid of it completely.

Read more on BBC

But for former England defender Stephen Warnock, the solution is simpler - get rid of VAR.

Read more on BBC

The head of the Metropolitan Police has said he plans to get rid of senior officers who are judged not to have met performance standards.

Read more on BBC

Despite federal and state attempts to rid campuses of “diversity, equity and inclusion,” that hateful worldview is still common across the Lone Star State.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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