rid

¹ American  

[rid] / rɪd /

verb (used with object)

rid, ridded, ridding

1. to clear, disencumber, or free of something objectionable (usually followed byof ).

   I want to rid the house of mice. In my opinion, you'd be wise to rid yourself of the smoking habit.

2. to relieve or disembarrass (usually followed byof ).

   to rid the mind of doubt.

3. Archaic. to deliver or rescue.

   to rid them out of bondage; to rid him from his enemies.

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idioms

1. be rid of, to be free of or no longer encumbered by.

   to be rid of obligations.

2. get rid of, to eliminate or discard.

   It's time we got rid of this trash.

rid ² American  

[rid] / rɪd /

verb

Archaic.

1. a simple past tense and past participle of ride.

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rid British  

/ rɪd /

verb

1. (foll by of) to relieve or deliver from something disagreeable or undesirable; make free (of)

   to rid a house of mice

2. to relieve or free oneself of (something or someone unpleasant or undesirable)

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rid More Idioms  

1. see get rid of.

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Other Word Forms

• ridder noun

Etymology

Origin of rid

1150–1200; Middle English ridden (v.), Old English ( ge ) ryddan to clear (land); cognate with Old Norse rythja to clear, empty

Example Sentences

“You made me promise not to get rid of that half-dead stump of a plant, so you owe me a promise too.”

From Literature

The fire had been some sort of illusion to get rid of him.

From Literature

If not for the humans on hand — the ones they eventually want to get rid of — the students would be lost in confusion.

From Salon

On top of that, some startups have gotten rid of vesting cliffs altogether, meaning an employee owns his or her shares from the moment they start working for the company.

From The Wall Street Journal

If losing your home and its contents — lest we forget about them — would cause you financial distress, don’t get rid of your home insurance.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• clear
• eliminate
• eradicate
• liberate
• purge
• relieve
• unload