rid Hear it!

rid¹ Definition

rid (rid)

transitive verb rid or rid·ded, rid·ding

  1. to free, clear, relieve, or disencumber, as of something undesirable: usually with of to rid oneself of superstitions
  2. Obsolete to save or deliver, as from danger, difficulty, etc.; rescue (from, out of, etc.)

Etymology: ME ridden, earlier ruden < ON rythja, to clear (land), akin to OE ryddan, OHG riuten < IE *reudh- < base *reu-, to tear up, dig out > rip, rug

rid¹ Idioms

be rid of

to be freed from or relieved of (something undesirable)

get rid of

  1. to get free from or relieved of (something undesirable)
  2. to do away with; destroy; kill

rid² Definition

rid (rid)

intransitive verb, transitive verb

Archaic ride

rid Synonyms

rid

modif.

be rid of

be freed, be relieved of, evade, have done with; see escape.

get rid of

rid Synonyms

rid

v.

rid Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • louse: Getting rid of lice is not a question of ideology.
  • rubbish: Hence the need to get rid of the rubbish in my room.
  • smell: How do I get rid of the smell without ruining the cue?
  • hangover: Trying to get rid of a hangover more like.
  • pest: For quite a long time, these sprays have been the most effective method of getting rid of those pests in our house.
  • junk: Use this as an excuse to get rid of any old junk.

Object

  • world: Can a dance rid the world of its poisons?
  • body: It is not enough to undergo dietary regimens to rid the body of toxins.
  • country: All there seemed to understand just ridding the country of Tony Blair was not going to change anything.
  • society: It is important that groups on the Left acknowledge our common desire to rid society of capitalism.
  • town: The people have tried everything, when a stranger appears who says he can rid the town of rats!
  • mind: Darwin and Humanity: Can we rid the mind of God?

Modifying Another Word

  • finally: And delighted to be finally rid of the last hosting company we were with.
  • well: Nobody was sure whether he died from a broken neck or by hanging, either way the moor was well rid of him.
  • now: No, I have benefited by eating healthily, because I am now rid of my carbohydrate craving.
  • not: For as long as they do not rid themselves of temporal glory, they are starved of spiritual nourishment.
  • just: All there seemed to understand just ridding the country of Tony Blair was not going to change anything.

Used with adjective complement

  • get: Now we need to get rid of the pressure.
  • want: Maybe we should believe David Murray when he says he wants rid of the bile.

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: What about the rest of us who have these overpriced used rail tickets to get rid off?

Browse dictionary entries near rid

  1. rictus
  2. ricotta
  3. ricochet
  4. RICO
  5. ricky-tick
  6. Rickword, Edgell
  7. rickshaw
  8. rickrack
  9. rickey
  10. rickety
  1. ridable
  2. riddance
  3. ridden
  4. riddle
  5. ride
  6. ride cymbal
  7. rider
  8. ridership
  9. ridge
  10. Ridge, Tom