ride

I UK [raɪd] / US verb
Word forms "ride":
present tense I/you/we/they ride he/she/it rides present participle riding past tense rode UK [rəʊd] / US [roʊd] past participle ridden UK [ˈrɪd(ə)n] / US
***

1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to sit on an animal, especially a horse, and control its movements as it moves along

I learned to ride only last year.

a group of children riding donkeys on the beach

ride on:

Have you ever ridden on a camel?

ride into:

knights riding into battle

ride away/off:

She rode away at a gentle trot.

b) to sit on a bicycle, motorcycle etc, and control it as it moves along

The little kids were riding their tricycles around the playground.

ride on:

He rides to school on his bicycle.

ride away/off:

They rode off on their motorcycles.

2)

a) [intransitive] to travel in a car, train, plane etc, especially as a passenger

ride in:

They rode to the wedding in a carriage.

ride around:

He enjoys riding around in his new car.

ride on:

She did not ride on the bus all the way there.

ride through:

They rode through the streets of the city.

b) [transitive] American to use a form of transport, especially as a passenger

the dangers of riding the New York subway at night

3) [intransitive/transitive] to take part in a race on a horse, bicycle, motorcycle etc

Are you riding in tomorrow's race?

4) [intransitive/transitive] to float, or to appear to float, on water or in the air

surfers riding the waves

Seagulls were riding the air currents at the cliff face.

•

ride on someone's shoulders/back — if a small child rides on your shoulders or back, they sit there as you move along

ride a punch/blow — to reduce the force of a hit by moving backwards slightly as you are hit

- ride at anchor

- riding for a fall

- riding high

Phrasal verbs:

- ride on

- ride out

- ride up

See:

let I

II UK [raɪd] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "ride":
singular ride plural rides
**

1)

a) a journey on a horse or other animal, on a bicycle or motorcycle, or in a vehicle

ride in:

The ride in the taxi was hot and bumpy.

ride on:

Jed let us have a ride on his horse.

a bus/car/train etc ride:

The bus ride from the airport was very pleasant.

go for a ride (in/on something):

I went for a ride in a helicopter last week.

take a ride (in something):

We thought it would be fun to take a ride in the balloon.

have a ride in/on something:

Billy won't let me have a ride on his bike.

b) mainly American a free journey that you are given in someone's vehicle. The usual British word is lift

I'll get a ride home with Jeff.

Would you like me to give you a ride to school?

hitch a ride (= ask for a ride):

He hitched a ride with a passing car.

2)

a) a machine at an amusement park (= a place outside where there are games and other activities) that people ride in for fun

a fair with stalls, rides, and entertainment

b) a period of time that you spend on a machine at an amusement park

ride on:

Let's have another ride on the roller coaster.

•

be/come/go along for the ride — informal to take part in an activity that other people are doing although you are not really interested in it

The guys all went to a football match, and I went along for the ride.

easy/rough ride — a period of time when you experience no problems/a lot of problems

The opposition aren't going to give the new government an easy ride.

- take someone for a ride