ride
verb (used without object)
to sit on and manage a horse or other animal in motion; be carried on the back of an animal.
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ride
1 American
[rahyd]
/ raɪd /
verb (used without object)
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rides,
present (3rd person singular)
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rode,
past
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rid,
past (Archaic)
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ridden,
past participle
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riding
present participle
-
to sit on and manage a horse or other animal in motion; be carried on the back of an animal.
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to be borne along on or in a vehicle or other kind of conveyance.
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to move or float on the water.
the surfboarders riding on the crests of the waves.
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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.
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to have a specified character for riding purposes.
The car rides smoothly.
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to be conditioned; depend (usually followed byon ).
All his hopes are riding on getting that promotion.
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Informal. to continue without interruption or interference.
He decided to let the bet ride.
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to be carried on something, as a litter, a person's shoulders, or the like.
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to work or move up from the proper place or position (usually followed byup ).
Her skirt rode up above her knees.
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to extend or project over something, as the edge of one thing over the edge of another thing.
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to turn or rest on something.
the great globe of the world riding on its axis.
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to appear to float in space, as a heavenly body.
A blood-red moon rode in the cloudless sky.
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to lie at anchor, as a ship.
verb (used with object)
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rides,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rode,
past
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rid,
past (Archaic)
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ridden,
past participle
-
riding
present participle
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to sit on and manage (a horse, bicycle, etc.) so as to be carried along.
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to sit or move along on (something); be carried or borne along on.
The ship rode the waves. We ride a bus.
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to ride over, along, or through (a road, boundary, region, etc.); traverse.
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to ridicule or harass persistently.
The boys keep riding him about his poor grades.
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to control, dominate, or tyrannize over.
a man ridden by fear; a country that is ridden by a power-mad dictator.
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to cause to ride.
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to carry (a person) on something as if on a horse.
He rode the child about on his back.
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to execute by riding.
to ride a race.
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to rest on, especially by overlapping.
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to keep (a vessel) at anchor or moored.
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Jazz. to play improvisations on (a melody).
noun
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rides
plural
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a journey or excursion on a horse, camel, etc., or on or in a vehicle.
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a means of or arrangement for transportation by motor vehicle.
We'll handle rides to be sure everyone gets home quickly.
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the vehicle used for transportation.
I've got to hang up now—my ride's here.
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a vehicle or device, as a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, or merry-go-round, on which people ride for amusement.
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a way, road, etc., made especially for riding.
verb phrase
idioms
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ride herd on. herd.
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ride for a fall, to conduct oneself so as to invite misfortune or injury.
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ride the beam, to fly along the course indicated by a radio beam.
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take for a ride,
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to murder, especially by abducting the victim for that purpose.
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to deceive; trick.
It was obvious to everyone but me that I was being taken for a ride.
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ride down,
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to trample or overturn by riding upon or against.
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to ride up to; overtake; capture.
The posse rode down the escaping bank robber.
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Nautical. to bear down upon (a rope of a tackle) with all one's weight.
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ride shotgun. shotgun.
Ride
2
American
[rahyd]
/ raɪd /
noun
ride
British
/ raɪd /
verb
-
to sit on and control the movements of (a horse or other animal)
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(tr) to sit on and propel (a bicycle or similar vehicle)
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(intr; often foll by on or in) to be carried along or travel on or in a vehicle
she rides to work on the bus
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(tr) to travel over or traverse
they rode the countryside in search of shelter
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(tr) to take part in by riding
to ride a race
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to travel through or be carried across (sea, sky, etc)
the small boat rode the waves
the moon was riding high
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(tr) to cause to be carried
to ride someone out of town
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(intr) to be supported as if floating
the candidate rode to victory on his new policies
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(intr) (of a vessel) to lie at anchor
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(tr) (of a vessel) to be attached to (an anchor)
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(esp of a bone) to overlap or lie over (another structure or part)
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informal
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(intr) to drive a car
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(tr) to transport (goods, farm produce, etc) by motor vehicle or cart
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(tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with; mount
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slang (tr) to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
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(tr; usually passive) to tyrannize over or dominate
ridden by fear
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informal (tr) to persecute, esp by constant or petty criticism
don't ride me so hard over my failure
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informal (intr) to continue undisturbed
I wanted to change something, but let it ride
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(tr) to endure successfully; ride out
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(tr) to yield slightly to (a blow or punch) in order to lessen its impact
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(of a bet) to remain placed
let your winnings ride on the same number
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(intr) jazz to play well, esp in freely improvising at perfect tempo
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to domineer over or act with complete disregard for
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to take part in a fox hunt on horseback
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to act in such a way as to invite disaster
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informal to return to a former activity or scene of activity
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confident, popular, and successful
noun
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a journey or outing on horseback or in a vehicle
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a path specially made for riding on horseback
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transport in a vehicle, esp when given freely to a pedestrian; lift
can you give me a ride to the station?
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a device or structure, such as a roller coaster at a fairground, in which people ride for pleasure or entertainment
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slang an act of sexual intercourse
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slang a partner in sexual intercourse
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informal
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to cheat, swindle, or deceive
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to take (someone) away in a car and murder him
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ride
More Idioms
Usage
What is a basic definition of ride? Ride is a verb that means to sit on the back of a moving animal or to travel in or on a vehicle, like a car. A ride is a journey made on an animal or using a vehicle. Ride has many other senses as a verb and a noun. When someone rides an animal, they are usually sitting on the animal’s back while it moves. In general, the word ride is used even if the animal is uncooperative or is trying to get rid of the person sitting on them. The person sitting on the animal is called a rider. Its past tenses are rode and ridden.
- Real-life examples: Horses are the most common animal that people ride. Cowboys attempt to ride angry bulls at rodeos. In many Asian countries, people ride camels.
- Used in a sentence: I like to ride horses with my mom.
- Real-life examples: People ride bikes, motorcycles, and skateboards. Airplanes, submarines, boats, cars, trains, buses, and subway cars are vehicles that people ride in.
- Used in a sentence: Grant rides the subway to get to work.
- Real-life examples: Petting zoos often offer pony rides to children. A trip from Tokyo to Berlin would be a long ride, no matter what kind of vehicle you used. People who are afraid of heights probably won’t be fans of airplane rides.
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Used in a sentence: My college years were a wild ride.
Synonym Usage
See drive.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ridesimple
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ridessimple
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have riddenperfect
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has riddenperfect
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am ridingprogressive
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are ridingprogressive
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is ridingprogressive
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have been ridingperfect progressive
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has been ridingperfect progressive
Past
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ridsimple
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rodesimple
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had riddenperfect
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was ridingprogressive
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were ridingprogressive
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had been ridingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ride
First recorded before 900; 1915–20 ride for def. 17; Middle English riden (verb), Old English rīdan; cognate with Old Frisian rīda, German reiten, Old Norse rītha; akin to Old Irish ríad “journey” ( cf. palfrey, rheda)
Explanation
To ride is to be carried in a car, on a bike, or on an animal. When you ride a horse for the first time, it's often surprising how far off the ground you are. You can ride in the back of a taxi or on a Ferris wheel at the fair. You can also ride — and control — a pony or a bicycle. As a noun, ride means "a trip in a vehicle," or a roller coaster or other amusement park entertainment. In the U.S., ride has also been an informal name for a car since about 1930: "Check out my new ride!"
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:
Whether it gets there or not, the ride will likely be a bumpy one.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 10, 2026
Microsoft is closing in on $4 trillion territory for the first time in nearly a year, helping to cap a wild ride that’s seen the company find its way back into investors’ good graces.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
That could make for a bumpy ride if recent investor anxiety worsens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Crazy Rich Asians” will officially be back on screen, with some familiar faces joining for the ride.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Duane averted what might have been a terrible crash, but the thrilling ride didn’t slow down.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
The Turbo Electric brings a pretty classy chassis to the party: Porsche’s Active Suspension Management and Active Ride.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Beside it is the pale blue flight jacket of Sally Ride, a physicist who in 1983 became the first American woman in space.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
The boy was traveling at around 35 mph on a black E Ride Pro electric motorcycle when he struck the median and lost control of the vehicle, according to authorities.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026
We’ll have more on the changes to Galaxy’s Edge and what they mean for the future of Disneyland in our theme park newsletter, Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
“I want all possible knowledge of the enemy strength. Ride forward yourself and observe. And be careful.”
From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara
Conclusion: The CrossWave is a big, brawny, outrageous machine, and rides like a plane crash that lasts all day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
The financial case depends on enough paying rides to cover those costs and eventually recover the money spent building the fleet.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Passengers need to know what they are being charged and who is responsible for the pedicab they are riding in," she said, adding that vehicles should be equipped with meters displaying the cost of rides.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
I had taken several Waymo rides around the metro area but hadn’t tried an airport pickup or drop off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Instead, we walk outside and wait for our rides.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Asked on S4C's Y Byd yn ei Le if he would be happy to get rid of the Wales Office, Drakeford said: "Yes, I think the time has come for us to think about that."
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Not everything you’ll get rid of can be rehomed easily — or even at all — and sale prices may be far less than what you paid.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Next week we’ll ask, “In response to the ‘Cornell 7’ case, some suggest entirely getting rid of sororities and fraternities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
"I don't think she necessarily has to get rid of him," said Marta Lorimer, lecturer in politics at Cardiff University.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
However, as these were imaginary mice to begin with, getting rid of them was not nearly so complicated as all that.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
“He stole a motorcycle and rode it around. He almost knocked a bunch of grips and gaffers off their ladders,” André recalled in 2023.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
China indirectly rode to the rescue of the global oil market when the Strait of Hormuz closed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Huge crowds cheered and waved as he rode down the Champs-Élysées Avenue greeting followers from his open-topped popemobile.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Pope Leo XIV rode down the French capital's iconic Champs-Elysees avenue in his popemobile on Saturday to the cheers of huge crowds of faithful, ahead of a giant open-air mass.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
And yet, as she rode the omnibus with the three Incorrigible children seated next to her and Lord Fredrick’s precious almanac in her lap, she found herself deeply curious about the contents of this book.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
I’ve ridden out the crashes, bought the dips, and every time I’ve been rewarded for holding on.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
We’ve ridden in past years from Canada to Oregon and from San Francisco to the Mexico border.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
The bikes should only be ridden by over 18s and identification is required for anyone setting up an account.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
In line with the sometimes defiant sense of local "Ossie pride", Siegmund has often ridden the iconic local Simson bike, including to the polling booth Sunday in his hometown of Tangermuende.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
I had never ridden in a car or truck before.
From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau
Members of the Amish community call the county home, riding horse-drawn buggies and operating farms with chickens, pigs, cows and horses on their properties just outside of the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
"Passengers need to know what they are being charged and who is responsible for the pedicab they are riding in," she said, adding that vehicles should be equipped with meters displaying the cost of rides.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
A Chinese fitness influencer has been dropped by her sponsor after she apologised for riding a bicycle during the Berlin marathon.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Rams will go into the game a .500 team riding the high of a comeback victory rather than trying to get out of a 1-3 hole.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Later, Naravirala took him for a walk, riding on her muscular back, Jacques flapping alongside, up the mountain to where a stream sprang.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
