# rode

/ˈɹoʊd/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rode
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. past tense of ride

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'ride'. You use this to say you sat on and controlled a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle in the past.

For teachers: the simple past tense of the irregular verb 'ride'.

- She rode her bicycle to the park every morning last summer.
- The messenger rode through the night to deliver the urgent documents before the council convened at dawn.

### 2. an anchor line

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the rope or chain that connects a boat to its anchor.

For teachers: the line, consisting of rope, chain, or a combination of both, that attaches a vessel to its anchor.

- The sailor checked the rode to make sure the boat was secure in the bay.
- As the storm intensified, the captain ordered more rode to be paid out to increase the horizontal pull on the anchor and prevent dragging.

Usage: Often used in the context of 'anchor rode'.

## Examples

- She rode her bike to school yesterday.
- The children rode the bus for forty minutes to reach the museum in the city center.
- He rode across the valley at dawn, hoping to reach the settlement before the heat of the midday sun made travel impossible for his horse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.