rid¹ Definition
rid (rid)
transitive verb rid or rid′·ded, rid′·ding
- to free, clear, relieve, or disencumber, as of something undesirable: usually with of to rid oneself of superstitions
- 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
- to get free from or relieved of (something undesirable)
- to do away with; destroy; kill
rid² Definition
rid (rid)
intransitive verb, transitive verb
Archaic ride
rid Synonyms
rid Synonyms
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
- ‹ rictus
- ‹ ricotta
- ‹ ricochet
- ‹ RICO
- ‹ ricky-tick
- ‹ Rickword, Edgell
- ‹ rickshaw
- ‹ rickrack
- ‹ rickey
- ‹ rickety
- ridable ›
- riddance ›
- ridden ›
- riddle ›
- ride ›
- ride cymbal ›
- rider ›
- ridership ›
- ridge ›
- Ridge, Tom ›

