Ride: meaning, definitions and examples

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ride

 

[ raɪd ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

on horseback

Sit on and control the movement of (an animal, especially a horse).

Synonyms

control, mount, saddle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ride

When you're talking about traveling on something like a bike, horse, or vehicle.

  • I love to ride my bike in the park
  • / We went for a ride in the countryside
mount

When referring to getting onto something, typically a horse or bike. It can also mean setting up or installing something.

  • He mounted his horse and rode away
  • / We mounted the TV on the wall
saddle

When you need to refer specifically to placing a saddle on a horse or preparing it for riding. It can also mean burdening someone with something.

  • She saddled her horse before the big race
  • / He was saddled with huge responsibilities
control

When discussing the act of steering or managing a vehicle or situation.

  • You need to learn how to control the car during a skid
  • / She took control of the meeting

Examples of usage

  • He rode his horse through the fields.
  • She rode the pony around the ring.
Context #2 | Noun

in a vehicle

A journey made on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle, or in a vehicle.

Synonyms

drive, journey, trip.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ride

Same as the first 'ride', used in similar contexts

  • She loves taking rides on her new motorcycle.
  • They went for a ride around the lake.
journey

Refers to the act of traveling from one place to another, especially when it involves a long distance or a significant experience.

  • Their journey across the desert lasted several days.
  • The book chronicles his journey to self-discovery.
trip

Usually describes a journey to a place and back, often for a short duration or recreational purpose.

  • We went on a weekend trip to the mountains.
  • The business trip took him to three different cities.
drive

Used when someone is operating and controlling a motor vehicle like a car, bus, or truck.

  • Can you drive me to the airport?
  • He learned how to drive when he was 16.

Examples of usage

  • I went for a ride on my bike.
  • We took a ride in the car.

Translations

Translations of the word "ride" in other languages:

🇵🇹 passeio

🇮🇳 सवारी

🇩🇪 Fahrt

🇮🇩 naik

🇺🇦 їзда

🇵🇱 jazda

🇯🇵 乗る

🇫🇷 balade

🇪🇸 paseo

🇹🇷 sürmek

🇰🇷 타다

🇸🇦 ركوب

🇨🇿 jízda

🇸🇰 jazda

🇨🇳 

🇸🇮 vožnja

🇮🇸 ferð

🇰🇿 саяхат

🇬🇪 გასეირნება

🇦🇿 sürmək

🇲🇽 paseo

Etymology

The word 'ride' originated from the Old English word 'ridan', which meant 'to sit on and control the movement of an animal'. Over time, the meaning expanded to include journeys made on various modes of transportation. The word has been used in English since the 8th century.

See also: override, overriding, rider, riders, riding.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,633, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.