ride

[ rahyd ]

/ raɪd /

verb (used without object), rode or (Archaic) rid; rid·den or (Archaic) rid; rid·ing.

to sit on and manage a horse or other animal in motion; be carried on the back of an animal.

to be borne along on or in a vehicle or other kind of conveyance.

to move or float on the water: the surfboarders riding on the crests of the waves.

to move along in any way; be carried or supported: He is riding along on his friend's success. Distress is riding among the people.

to have a specified character for riding purposes: The car rides smoothly.

to be conditioned; depend (usually followed by on): All his hopes are riding on getting that promotion.

Informal. to continue without interruption or interference: He decided to let the bet ride.

to be carried on something, as a litter, a person's shoulders, or the like.

to work or move up from the proper place or position (usually followed by up): Her skirt rode up above her knees.

to extend or project over something, as the edge of one thing over the edge of another thing.

to turn or rest on something: the great globe of the world riding on its axis.

to appear to float in space, as a heavenly body: A blood-red moon rode in the cloudless sky.

to lie at anchor, as a ship.

verb (used with object), rode or (Archaic) rid; rid·den or (Archaic) rid; rid·ing.

to sit on and manage (a horse, bicycle, etc.) so as to be carried along.

to sit or move along on (something); be carried or borne along on: The ship rode the waves. We ride a bus.

to ride over, along, or through (a road, boundary, region, etc.); traverse.

to ridicule or harass persistently: The boys keep riding him about his poor grades.

to control, dominate, or tyrannize over: a man ridden by fear; a country that is ridden by a power-mad dictator.

to cause to ride.

to carry (a person) on something as if on a horse: He rode the child about on his back.

to execute by riding: to ride a race.

to rest on, especially by overlapping.

to keep (a vessel) at anchor or moored.

Jazz. to play improvisations on (a melody).

noun

a journey or excursion on a horse, camel, etc., or on or in a vehicle.

a means of or arrangement for transportation by motor vehicle: We'll handle rides to be sure everyone gets home quickly.

the vehicle used for transportation: I've got to hang up now—my ride's here.

a vehicle or device, as a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, or merry-go-round, on which people ride for amusement.

a way, road, etc., made especially for riding.

Verb Phrases

ride out,

to sustain (a gale, storm, etc.) without damage, as while riding at anchor.
to sustain or endure successfully.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for ride

ride down,

to trample or overturn by riding upon or against.
to ride up to; overtake; capture: The posse rode down the escaping bank robber.
Nautical. to bear down upon (a rope of a tackle) with all one's weight.

ride for a fall, to conduct oneself so as to invite misfortune or injury.

ride herd on. herd¹(def 6).

ride shotgun. shotgun(def 9).

ride the beam, Aeronautics. to fly along the course indicated by a radio beam.

take for a ride, Slang.

to murder, especially by abducting the victim for that purpose.
to deceive; trick: It was obvious to everyone but me that I was being taken for a ride.

Origin of ride

before 900; 1915–20 for def 17; Middle English riden (v.), Old English rīdan; cognate with Old Frisian rīda, German reiten, Old Norse rītha; akin to Old Irish ríad journey (cf. palfrey, rheda). See road

synonym study for ride

2. See drive.

Words nearby ride

rid of, ridable, riddance, ridden, riddle, ride, ride down, ride for a fall, ride hellbent for leather, ride herd on, ride high

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for ride up (1 of 2)

ride up

verb

(intr, adverb) to move or work away from the proper place or positionher new skirt rode up uncomfortably

British Dictionary definitions for ride up (2 of 2)

ride

/ (raɪd) /

verb rides, riding, rode or ridden

to sit on and control the movements of (a horse or other animal)

(tr) to sit on and propel (a bicycle or similar vehicle)

(intr ; often foll by on or in) to be carried along or travel on or in a vehicleshe rides to work on the bus

(tr) to travel over or traversethey rode the countryside in search of shelter

(tr) to take part in by ridingto ride a race

to travel through or be carried across (sea, sky, etc)the small boat rode the waves; the moon was riding high

(tr) US and Canadian to cause to be carriedto ride someone out of town

(intr) to be supported as if floatingthe candidate rode to victory on his new policies

(intr) (of a vessel) to lie at anchor

(tr) (of a vessel) to be attached to (an anchor)

(esp of a bone) to overlap or lie over (another structure or part)

Southern African informal

(intr) to drive a car
(tr) to transport (goods, farm produce, etc) by motor vehicle or cart

(tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with; mount

(tr) slang to have sexual intercourse with (someone)

(tr; usually passive) to tyrannize over or dominateridden by fear

(tr) informal to persecute, esp by constant or petty criticismdon't ride me so hard over my failure

(intr) informal to continue undisturbedI wanted to change something, but let it ride

(tr) to endure successfully; ride out

(tr) to yield slightly to (a blow or punch) in order to lessen its impact

(intr often foll by on) (of a bet) to remain placedlet your winnings ride on the same number

(intr) jazz to play well, esp in freely improvising at perfect tempo

ride roughshod over to domineer over or act with complete disregard for

ride to hounds to take part in a fox hunt on horseback

ride for a fall to act in such a way as to invite disaster

ride again informal to return to a former activity or scene of activity

riding high confident, popular, and successful

noun

a journey or outing on horseback or in a vehicle

a path specially made for riding on horseback

transport in a vehicle, esp when given freely to a pedestrian; liftcan you give me a ride to the station?

a device or structure, such as a roller coaster at a fairground, in which people ride for pleasure or entertainment

slang an act of sexual intercourse

slang a partner in sexual intercourse

take for a ride informal

to cheat, swindle, or deceive
to take (someone) away in a car and murder him

Derived forms of ride

ridable or rideable, adjective

Word Origin for ride

Old English rīdan; related to Old High German rītan, Old Norse rītha

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with ride up (1 of 2)

ride up

Gradually move upward from a normal position, as in This skirt is too tight and it constantly rides up. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with ride up (2 of 2)

ride

In addition to the idioms beginning with ride

ride for a fall
ride hellbent for leather
ride herd on
ride high
ride out
ride roughshod over
ride shotgun
ride up

also see:

along for the ride
go along (for the ride)
gravy train, ride the
hitch a ride
let ride
take someone for a ride

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ride

verb (used without object), rode or (Archaic) rid; rid·den or (Archaic) rid; rid·ing.

verb (used with object), rode or (Archaic) rid; rid·den or (Archaic) rid; rid·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Idioms for ride

Origin of ride

synonym study for ride

Words nearby ride

British Dictionary definitions for ride up (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for ride up (2 of 2)

verb rides, riding, rode or ridden

noun

Derived forms of ride

Word Origin for ride

Idioms and Phrases with ride up (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with ride up (2 of 2)