ride
ride — verb
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
ride on
phrasal verbTo depend on something for success or outcome.
The whole project rides on the CEO's decision.
Our hopes ride on the final game of the season.
ride out
phrasal verbTo survive a difficult situation without serious harm.
The ship rode out the storm safely.
They managed to ride out the economic crisis.
ride up
phrasal verbTo move upward out of place, especially clothing.
Her skirt kept riding up as she walked.
The jacket's sleeves ride up when I raise my arms.
be riding for a fall
idiomTo act in a way that will probably cause trouble or failure.
Min is riding for a fall by ignoring all safety rules.
If you keep spending like that, you're riding for a fall.
be riding high
idiomTo be very successful or feel very confident.
After winning the championship, the team is riding high.
Sara was riding high after her promotion at work.
Wishing for something does not make it happen; you must take action.
He dreams of being rich, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
You can't just wish for success; if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
let something ride
idiomTo choose not to deal with a problem immediately, even though you might need to later.
Diego was rude, but I decided to let it ride for now.
The mistake was small, so the manager let it ride.
To enjoy great success or popularity because of a particular situation.
The company is riding the crest of a new technology boom.
Aiden is riding the crest of his recent album release.
To watch or control someone or something closely.
The teacher rode herd on the noisy students all day.
Police rode herd on the crowd during the protest.
To treat someone badly without caring about their feelings.
The new manager rode roughshod over the staff's opinions.
He rode roughshod over his colleagues to get the promotion.
ride shotgun
idiomTo sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
Maya called shotgun and rode in the front seat.
Who wants to ride shotgun on the way to the beach?
To benefit from or be carried along by a popular trend or situation.
The startup is riding a wave of investor interest.
Schools are riding the wave of renewed public support.
ride — noun
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 he called his brother 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
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
- ridernounA2
- ridingnounB1
- riddenadjectiveC1
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.