ride

  • verb (past rode; past part. ridden) 1 sit on and control the movement of (a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle). 2 (usu. ride in/on) travel in or on a vehicle or horse. 3 travel over on horseback or on a bicycle or motorcycle: ride the scenic trail. 4 be carried or supported by: surfers rode the waves. 5 sail or float: a ship rode at anchor in the dock. 6 (ride up) (of a garment) gradually move upwards out of its proper position. 7 (ride on) depend on. 8 (ride out) come safely through. 9 yield to (a blow) so as to reduce its impact. (be ridden) be full of or dominated by: people ridden by ill health.

  • noun 1 an act of riding. 2 a roller coaster, roundabout, etc. ridden at a fair or amusement park. 3 a path for horse riding. 4 N. Amer. a person giving a lift in a vehicle.

  — PHRASES be riding for a fall informal be acting in a reckless way that invites failure. let something ride take no immediate action over something. ride high be successful. ride to hounds chiefly Brit. go fox-hunting on horseback. a rough (or easy) ride a difficult (or easy) time. take someone for a ride informal deceive someone.

  — DERIVATIVES rideable (also ridable) adjective.

  — ORIGIN Old English.

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