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rid

v. · adj.
US //ˈɹɪd// UK //ɹˈɪd// rid
Irregular verb past rid past participle rid
  1. 1 to remove something unwanted (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a person or place free from something annoying or unwanted.

    to free a person or place of something encumbering or undesirable; almost always used with the preposition 'of'.

    Example

    The new manager promised to rid the office of unnecessary paperwork.

    Example

    The government launched a massive campaign to rid the coastal waters of invasive species that were destroying the local ecosystem.
    Pitfall
    I want to rid my old clothes.
    I want to get rid of my old clothes.

    In modern English, 'rid' is rarely used as a standalone verb; it usually appears in the phrase 'get rid of'.

  2. 2 to be free of something (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be finished with or free from something that was a problem.

    used in the predicate to describe the state of being free from an unwanted person or thing.

    Example

    I am finally rid of that old car after months of trying to sell it.

    Example

    Once the company was rid of its debt, the board of directors felt more comfortable investing in risky new technologies.

    Usage

    Usually follows the verbs 'be', 'get', or 'want'.
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  1. 3 to clear land (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Technical Science

    to clear trees or bushes from a piece of land.

    to clear land of vegetation or obstacles, often in preparation for mining or farming.

    Example

    The workers had to rid the field of stones before they could plant crops.

    Example

    Before the quarrying could commence, the team had to rid the surface of loose earth and rubble.

    Usage

    Often used in historical or technical mining contexts.
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