ride
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.
ride + possessive + [vehicle] to [place]
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.
ride along [path/road]
- ride a bike
- ride a horse
- ride a motorcycle
- ride a pony
- learn to ride
- walk
to travel on foot rather than on an animal or vehicle
Grammar Patterns
ride + noun phrase (horse/bike)
ride + adverb/preposition phrase
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
riding as a hobby since childhood
Putri enjoys riding more than any other outdoor activity she has tried.
- go riding
- horse riding
- riding lessons
- riding a horse for pleasure
- horseback riding
more formal term for the activity; used as a noun phrase
Grammar Patterns
go riding
ride (through/across/in) [area]
Usage Note
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.
ride the subway to [place]
The team rode together in a van from the hotel to the competition venue.
ride in [vehicle]
- ride the bus
- ride the train
- ride the subway
- ride a taxi
- ride in a car
Grammar Patterns
ride + [vehicle] + to/from + [place]
ride in + [vehicle]
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
ride + person + hard
- ride someone about something
- ride someone hard
- ride someone for doing something
Grammar Patterns
ride + person + about/for + [reason]
ride + person + hard
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
ride at anchor
- ride the tide
- ride the air
- ride at anchor
- ride on the swell
Grammar Patterns
ride on + water/air
ride at anchor
Usage Note
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.
ride + crisis/problem
Local shops struggled to ride the long months of street repairs.
- let it ride
- let the issue ride
- ride the scandal
- ride a difficult period
Grammar Patterns
let + noun + ride
ride + problem/crisis
Usage Note
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.
ride on + what-clause
- ride on one vote
- ride on a decision
- ride on the result
- ride on whether ...
Grammar Patterns
ride on + [person/thing]
ride on + whether/what-clause
Usage Note
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'.
Common Mistakes
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.
ride up whenever + movement
- ride up on the leg
- ride up at the waist
- ride up inside boots
Grammar Patterns
ride up
ride up on + body part
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
ride on
phrasal verbto depend on a particular person, result, or piece of information.
The whole case rides on whether the missing file is found.
Our weekend trip rides on Amira getting Saturday off.
ride out
phrasal verbto stay calm and continue until a difficult situation passes.
The family stayed indoors and rode out the storm by candlelight.
Small shops hope to ride out the roadworks until summer tourists return.
ride up
phrasal verbto move higher on your body than is comfortable, especially of clothes.
These leggings ride up after a few minutes of running.
Her jacket rode up when she reached for the top shelf.
be riding for a fall
idiomto be acting too confidently or taking foolish risks in a way that is likely to end badly.
After ignoring every warning sign, the company was riding for a fall.
be riding high
idiomto be enjoying a period of strong success, confidence, or public praise.
After the award ceremony, the young director was riding high for weeks.
used to say that simply wanting something does not make it happen.
When Leo asked again for a free holiday, his aunt said, 'If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.'
let something ride
idiomto choose not to deal with a problem or disagreement yet, even though it may need attention later.
Nadia noticed the mistake but decided to let it ride until Monday.
to enjoy the strongest part of a success or public mood created by a recent event.
The singer is riding the crest of her breakout television performance.
to watch and control someone or something very closely so that things stay in order.
The producer rode herd on every detail before the live broadcast.
to ignore someone's rights or feelings and treat them harshly while doing what you want.
The chairman rode roughshod over local residents during the planning meeting.
ride shotgun
idiomto sit in the front passenger seat of a car or truck.
Ritu called it first, so she got to ride shotgun home.
to benefit from a strong trend or feeling that is helping similar people or things.
Small cafés are riding a wave of tourist interest this summer.
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.
the ride to [place] + time duration
- bus ride
- train ride
- give someone a ride
- go for a ride
- short ride
- long ride
Grammar Patterns
a ride from [place] to [place]
give someone a ride
go for a ride
Usage Note
Unlike 'journey' or 'trip', 'ride' usually refers to a shorter, single-leg journey, often by a specific mode of transport.
Common Mistakes
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.
a bumpy ride
His first year running the shop was a wild ride full of ups and downs.
- a rough ride
- a bumpy ride
- a smooth ride
- a wild ride
- experience
more neutral and general; 'ride' adds metaphorical vividness
- time
informal: 'We had a rough time' means the same as 'a rough ride'
Grammar Patterns
a + [adjective] + ride
Usage Note
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.
offer someone a ride to [place]
Yara waved down a friend who was driving past and got a ride into town.
- give someone a ride
- get a ride
- ask for a ride
- offer a ride
- need a ride
- lift
chiefly British English: 'Can I have a lift?'
Grammar Patterns
give someone a ride
ask for a ride
get a ride
offer someone a ride
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
be someone's ride to [place]
Tariro checked his phone to see if his ride had arrived yet outside.
- my ride
- be someone's ride
- find a ride
- call your ride
- driver
more neutral and formal; focuses on the act of driving
Grammar Patterns
my ride
be someone's ride
call + possessive + ride
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
take [possessive] ride to [place]
- my ride
- nice ride
- new ride
- first ride
Grammar Patterns
possessive + ride
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
wait in line to go on a ride
- theme park ride
- roller coaster ride
- fairground ride
- go on a ride
- amusement ride
- attraction
broader term that includes shows, games, and other entertainment besides rides
Grammar Patterns
go on a ride
a [type] ride
Usage Note
This sense is countable — you go on 'a ride' or 'the rides'. Specific types include roller coasters, Ferris wheels, bumper cars, and water flumes.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Ride, drive, and cycle all describe moving on or in a vehicle, but they differ in what vehicle you control and where you sit. Ride is used for horses, bicycles, motorcycles, and as a passenger in any vehicle — you sit on top of a horse or bike, or inside a car or bus as a passenger. Drive is specific to controlling a car, truck, or bus from the driver's seat inside the vehicle. Cycle is a more formal or activity-focused alternative for riding a bicycle. For example: 'I ride my motorcycle to work' (controlling from on top), but 'I drive my car to work' (controlling from inside); 'I cycle to the station every day' focuses on the exercise aspect. As a passenger, you would say 'I rode the bus home' or 'I rode in my friend's car.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'ride' comes from Old English 'rīdan', which meant to sit on and travel by horse. It belongs to a family of Germanic words including Dutch 'rijden' and German 'reiten'. The original sense was specifically about horses; the meaning expanded to bicycles in the 1800s and to motor vehicles soon after. The noun sense of 'a journey by vehicle' developed in the 19th century, while the amusement-park sense appeared in the early 20th century.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a Noun