riding
noun
the act of a person or thing that rides.
riding
1 American
[rahy-ding]
/ ˈraɪ dɪŋ /
noun
adjective
riding
2
American
[rahy-ding]
/ ˈraɪ dɪŋ /
noun
-
any of the three administrative divisions into which Yorkshire, England, is divided, namely, North Riding, East Riding, and West Riding.
-
any similar administrative division elsewhere.
Riding
3
American
[rahy-ding]
/ ˈraɪ dɪŋ /
noun
riding
1
British
/ ˈraɪdɪŋ /
noun
riding
2
British
/ ˈraɪdɪŋ /
noun
-
(capital when part of a name) any of the three former administrative divisions of Yorkshire: North Riding, East Riding and West Riding
-
(in Canada) a parliamentary constituency
-
(in New Zealand) a rural electorate for local government
Etymology
Origin of riding1
before 1000; Middle English (noun, adj.); Old English rīdende (adj.). See ride, -ing 1, -ing 2
Origin of riding2
1250–1300; Middle English triding, Old English *thriding < Old Norse thridjungr third part; t- (of ME), variant of th- (of OE), lost by assimilation to -t in east, west, which commonly preceded
Explanation
Use the word riding for the sport of maneuvering a horse while sitting on its back. So when your friend invites you to go riding, you'd better be prepared to climb up into a saddle. You can also call this sport horseback riding, or if you want to get really fancy, equestrianism. Riding involves, of course, staying perched on the back of a horse while it trots, canters, or gallops along. There are a lot of additional variations on riding, including horse racing, rodeo events, and dressage, which involves dance-like movements that are judged on how athletic and graceful the horse is and how relaxed the rider appears.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But her big passion was for horses, with her Instagram showing the young woman proudly riding or training them.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Alex Srour told CBS 8 that he was riding his bike on the boardwalk when he heard someone scream, “Watch out.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
UK Hospitality Cymru director David Chapman said the costs facing the sector made running a business similar to "plate spinning when you're riding an exercise bike".
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
“We’re good, chilling,” Perez could be heard in one cellphone video, riding his motorcycle along a beachside road with his girlfriend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
I dreamed that I was riding a beautiful pony, up and down the country roads, and far back in the green rugged hills; even way up in the clouds—riding, riding, riding.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
The Evo update allows riders to change suspension settings on the move, regardless of Riding Mode.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Riding a wave of hype and capital, quantum computing was thrust back into the spotlight last month as the U.S. government made a $2 billion bet on the technology.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
Riding the line of being just about to break, it’s so much fun.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
"He himself collected birds' eggs and stuffed birds, but he was worried about the slaughter of birds on the East Riding coast," Neave says.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026
Riding her into the Meadowlands with Daddy on a clear Saturday morning, letting her graze the salt hay and cordgrass.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
