To ride means to sit on something and travel while it moves. You ride a bicycle by pedaling it down the street, or ride a horse by sitting in the saddle while it gallops. You can ride in a car (as a passenger) or ride an elevator to the tenth floor. At an amusement park, you might ride a roller coaster or a Ferris wheel.

The word also describes the experience itself. A bumpy ride on a dirt road jostles you around, while a smooth ride in a new car feels comfortable. When someone offers you a ride home, they're offering to drive you there.

Ride appears in many expressions. Going along for the ride means joining an activity without much responsibility. Taking someone for a ride can mean tricking or deceiving them. A teacher might describe a difficult school year as a rough ride, meaning it was challenging. When you ride out a storm, you stay safe and wait for it to pass.

The word can also mean that something depends on success. A politician's career might ride on winning an important election, meaning everything depends on that outcome.