ride
/raɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈaɪd] /raɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [rˈaɪd] /ˈrīd/ (ame, mw)
ride — verb
- ridepresent simple I / you / we / they
- rideshe / she / it
- rodepast simple
- riddenpast participle
- riding-ing form
1. to get onto and control a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle so that it moves in the
to get onto and control a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle so that it moves in the direction you intend it to go.
Hao learned to ride a bike when he was five years old.
learn to ride [bike/vehicle]
The children love to ride the small ponies at the weekend market.
ride + [animal] at [place]
Élise rides her motorbike to work every Monday without fail.
During the summer camp, the children learned to ride horses on the farm.
We rode along the beach path on our bicycles as the sun went down.
- walk
to travel on foot rather than on an animal or vehicle
文法句型
ride + noun phrase (horse/bike)
ride + adverb/preposition phrase
用法筆記
Unlike 'drive', 'ride' is used when the person is sitting on top of the vehicle or animal rather than inside it. For cars, use 'ride in' or 'ride' as a passenger.
常見錯誤
2. to spend time on a horse as a hobby or for enjoyment, moving across an area at a
to spend time on a horse as a hobby or for enjoyment, moving across an area at a relaxed pace.
Evelyn goes riding at the stables near her house every Saturday morning.
go riding at [place]
The group rode through the forest for nearly three hours yesterday afternoon.
ride through [area]
Hyun has been riding since childhood and now takes part in horse shows.
Putri enjoys riding more than any other outdoor activity she has tried.
- horseback riding
more formal term for the activity; used as a noun phrase
文法句型
go riding
ride (through/across/in) [area]
用法筆記
This sense is often used in the continuous form ('go riding', 'goes riding') and focuses on the activity rather than the method of control.
3. to go from one place to another sitting inside a car, bus, train, or similar veh
to go from one place to another sitting inside a car, bus, train, or similar vehicle that is being driven or operated by someone else.
Vivek rode the bus to school until he finally saved enough for a car.
ride the [vehicle] to [place]
We rode the high-speed train from Taipei to Kaohsiung in just ninety minutes.
ride the [type of] train from [place] to [place]
The children rode the ferry across the harbour to visit their grandmother.
Manuela rides the subway to her office every day because it saves time.
The team rode together in a van from the hotel to the competition venue.
文法句型
ride + [vehicle] + to/from + [place]
ride in + [vehicle]
用法筆記
In American English, 'ride' is commonly used transitively ('ride the bus', 'ride the train'). In British English, 'travel by bus/train' or 'take the bus/train' is more frequent, though 'ride' is still understood.
常見錯誤
4. to keep criticizing or teasing someone repeatedly in a way that makes them feel
to keep criticizing or teasing someone repeatedly in a way that makes them feel annoyed, pressured, or unfairly treated.
The manager is always riding the staff about small mistakes in their reports.
ride + person + about [something]
Faisal's older brothers used to ride him for being afraid of the dark.
ride + person + for [reason]
Stop riding her about the choice she made — she has explained her reasons already.
The coach rode the team hard after they lost three games in a row.
文法句型
ride + person + about/for + [reason]
ride + person + hard
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern everyday speech. It appears more in informal, direct criticism contexts and can overlap with 'nag' or 'tease' depending on tone.
常見錯誤
5. to stay floating on water or in air while being carried along by it.
to stay floating on water or in air while being carried along by it.
The small fishing boat rode gently on the evening tide near the pier.
ride on + water current
For hours, the balloon rode the warm air above the valley.
ride + air current
A line of white clouds rode across the hills after the storm.
Their old boat rode at anchor while the family ate lunch ashore.
文法句型
ride on + water/air
ride at anchor
用法筆記
The subject is usually a boat, cloud, balloon, or similar thing being carried by water or air. Distinguish from sense 1, where a person controls the movement.
6. to leave a problem alone for the time being, or to keep going until a difficult
to leave a problem alone for the time being, or to keep going until a difficult period ends.
The board chose to let the complaint ride until more facts came in.
let + noun + ride
Rather than argue again, Mei let the remark ride and finished dinner quietly.
let the remark ride
The governor hoped to ride the scandal until the election was over.
Local shops struggled to ride the long months of street repairs.
文法句型
let + noun + ride
ride + problem/crisis
用法筆記
Often appears in patterns such as 'let it ride' or with the problem itself as the object. The idea is postponing action or surviving until the pressure passes.
7. to depend completely on a particular person, result, or condition.
to depend completely on a particular person, result, or condition.
Whether the project continues now rides on one final vote.
ride on + result/decision
A lot of local jobs ride on the factory staying open.
ride on + noun phrase
Their holiday plans rode on Hassan getting his visa in time.
Success in the case rides on what the witness says tomorrow.
文法句型
ride on + [person/thing]
ride on + whether/what-clause
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'on' and used about outcomes, plans, jobs, or chances of success. It is more formal and heavier in tone than plain 'depend on'.
常見錯誤
8. to move higher on the body than intended, especially of clothes or bandages.
to move higher on the body than intended, especially of clothes or bandages.
These shorts ride up when I climb the stairs too quickly.
ride up while moving
The bandage kept riding up on her arm during tennis practice.
ride up on + body part
His sock rode up inside the boot and rubbed against his calf.
The skirt rides up whenever Eri sits on the low sofa.
文法句型
ride up
ride up on + body part
用法筆記
Used mainly of clothes, socks, straps, or bandages that slide upward while someone moves. Distinguish from sense 5, which is about floating rather than body position.
常見錯誤
ride — noun
- ridesingular
- ridesplural
1. a short journey made while sitting on an animal, on a bicycle, or inside a vehic
a short journey made while sitting on an animal, on a bicycle, or inside a vehicle.
Tariro gave the children a ride on his bicycle around the local park.
give someone a ride on [vehicle/animal]
The bus ride from the city centre to the airport takes about forty minutes.
[vehicle] ride from [place] to [place]
After a long ride through the mountains, the group stopped at a small hotel.
The ride to school is only ten minutes when there is no traffic at all.
文法句型
a ride from [place] to [place]
give someone a ride
go for a ride
用法筆記
Unlike 'journey' or 'trip', 'ride' usually refers to a shorter, single-leg journey, often by a specific mode of transport.
常見錯誤
2. an experience or period of time that has a particular character, especially one
an experience or period of time that has a particular character, especially one that is enjoyable, difficult, or exciting.
The movie was a wild ride from start to finish with many unexpected twists.
a wild ride
Starting a new business has been a rough ride for Christopher and his team.
a rough ride
The election campaign was a bumpy ride for all the candidates who took part.
His first year running the shop was a wild ride full of ups and downs.
- experience
more neutral and general; 'ride' adds metaphorical vividness
- time
informal: 'We had a rough time' means the same as 'a rough ride'
文法句型
a + [adjective] + ride
用法筆記
This sense typically appears in fixed adjective-noun phrases like 'a rough ride', 'a bumpy ride', or 'a smooth ride'. The adjective conveys the quality of the experience.
3. a trip at no cost in a vehicle belonging to someone else, taking you to a destin
a trip at no cost in a vehicle belonging to someone else, taking you to a destination you need to reach.
Abigail asked her neighbour for a ride to the train station this morning.
ask someone for a ride to [place]
If you miss the last bus, I can give you a ride home tonight.
give someone a ride [direction]
Cyrus offered Sari a ride to the party since it was raining quite heavily.
Yara waved down a friend who was driving past and got a ride into town.
- lift
chiefly British English: 'Can I have a lift?'
文法句型
give someone a ride
ask for a ride
get a ride
offer someone a ride
用法筆記
This is the most common noun sense in everyday conversation. 'Give someone a ride' and 'get a ride' are especially frequent in American and British English.
常見錯誤
4. a person who offers to transport you somewhere in their vehicle.
a person who offers to transport you somewhere in their vehicle.
My ride for the evening was a friendly woman who lived on my street.
my ride for [event/time]
Esteban's car broke down, so his brother agreed to be his ride to the airport.
be [possessive] ride to [place]
Wren asked her roommate to be her ride to the doctor the next morning.
Tariro checked his phone to see if his ride had arrived yet outside.
- driver
more neutral and formal; focuses on the act of driving
文法句型
my ride
be someone's ride
call + possessive + ride
用法筆記
This is an informal American English usage. You would not use it in formal writing or in British English. 'My ride' here means 'the person giving me a ride', not the car itself.
常見錯誤
5. a car, especially one that belongs to a particular person and is used for person
a car, especially one that belongs to a particular person and is used for personal travel.
Hey, nice ride! exclaimed Quan when he saw Allison's new sports car.
nice ride! (exclamation of admiration)
Allison pulled up in her ride and honked the horn twice outside the house.
possessive + ride (informal for car)
Quan saved money for two years to buy his first ride, a used grey sedan.
Stephanie took her new ride to the car wash every Sunday without fail.
文法句型
possessive + ride
用法筆記
This is slang. Use it only in informal, friendly conversation. 'Nice ride!' is a common compliment for someone's car. Do not use it in formal or professional contexts.
常見錯誤
6. a large machine at a fair, carnival, or theme park that people sit in or on and
a large machine at a fair, carnival, or theme park that people sit in or on and are moved around for entertainment and excitement.
The roller coaster is the most popular ride at the entire theme park.
[type of] ride at [place]
Hao's little sister was too scared to go on any of the fast rides there.
go on a ride
The water ride splashed everyone so much that they came out soaking wet.
Putri and Greta waited over an hour to go on the new ride.
- attraction
broader term that includes shows, games, and other entertainment besides rides
文法句型
go on a ride
a [type] ride
用法筆記
This sense is countable — you go on 'a ride' or 'the rides'. Specific types include roller coasters, Ferris wheels, bumper cars, and water flumes.