How do you use the word "rid" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "rid": You must rid yourself of bad habits. You must get rid of that bad habit.

Rid Meaning

/ɹɪd/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbFollowed by of: to free (oneself or someone, or a place) from an annoyance or hindrance.

verbFollowed by away, from, or out of: to remove (oneself or someone, or something, that is annoying, troublesome, or unwanted).

Sentence Examples

You must rid yourself of bad habits.

You must get rid of that bad habit.

She wanted to be rid of her parents and their authority.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

free

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

To make the garden safe, we need to ____ it of all the poisonous weeds.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

She was determined to ____ the house of every trace of damp before putting it on the market.

Word Origin & History

The verb is derived from Middle English ridden (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to complete (something unfinished); to free (someone or something); to relieve (someone); etc.”), probably from Old English *ryddan (“to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear”) (the past participle form ġeryd is attested), from Proto-Germanic *riudijaną (“to clear”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hrewdʰ- (“to clear land”), or possibly from *Hrew- (“to dig out, tear out; to open; to acquire”). The verb was probably also influenced by the following: * Middle English redden (“to rescue (someone), deliver, save; to rid (someone) of a burden; to free (someone)”) (from which redd (obsolete except Northern England, Scotland) is partly derived), from Old English hreddan (“to deliver, rescue, save; to free; to recover; to take away”), from Proto-West Germanic *hraddjan (“to rescue, save”), from Proto-Germanic *hradjaną (“to rescue, save; to free; to loosen”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kret- (“to move quickly; to rattle; to shake”); and * Middle English reden (“to arrange; to get ready, prepare; to put in order, tidy; to remove debris, obstructions, etc., from (a place), to clear; to unblock; etc.”) (whence rede (chiefly Scotland, archaic)), from Old English rǣdan, Early Old English rēdan, from Proto-West Germanic *raidijan (“to arrange”), from Proto-Germanic *raidijaną (“to arrange”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂rey- (“to arrange; to count, count out”). The adjective is derived from rid, the past participle of the verb. The noun is derived from the verb. As regards noun etymology 1, noun sense 1 (“progress which has been made; speed”), compare verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.4.5 (“to complete or get through (a task, or work)”). cognates * Dutch redden (“to save, deliver”) * German retten (“to save, deliver”), reuten (“to clear”), roden (“to clear”) * Old Frisian hredda (“to save”) * Old Norse hrōðja (“to clear, strip”), Old Norse ryðja (“to clear, empty”)

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Than thou madeſt heuẽ [heaven] free and rydde from all rebellion⸝ […]" — [1526?], Erasmus Roterodamus, “The Seconde Peticion”, in [Margaret Roper], transl., A Deuoute Treatise vpon the Pater Noster, […], London: […] Thomas Berthelet⸝ […] , →OCLC, signature d.iij., verso:

"If I coulde conuenyently rydde me of this felowe I wolde go with you wͭ [with] all my herte: […]" — 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxli, verso, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:

"[John the Baptist's disciples] myſtooke John too haue been the Meſſias. John to the intent too rid his diſciples of this errour, ſendeth them to Chryſt, too enquire of hym whether hée were the very Meſſias, or whether ſome other were ſtyll too bée looked for: […]" — 1569, Nicholas Heminge [i.e., Niels Hemmingsen], “The Thirde Sunday in Aduent. The Exposition of the Text.”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Postill, or Exposition of the Gospels that are Usually Red in the Churches of God, vpon the Sundayes and Feast Dayes of Saincts. […], London: […] Henry Bynneman […], for Lucas Harrison and George Byshop, →OCLC, folio 10, recto:

"[W]ould I haue giuen him the beſt horſe in Padua to begin his vvoing that vvould thoroughly vvoe her, vved her, and bed her, and ridde the houſe of her." — c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 211, column 2:

"[T]he Godly folke ſhall flocke about mee, and ſhall not ſtint to giue thee [God] thankes, vvhen they ſee that thou riddeſt mee foorth of their daungers, to the high praiſe of thy name, […]" — [1595], “Containing Verie Godly Praiers for Comfort, Strength, and Deliuerie (by Gods Assistance) in All Sorrowes, Tribulations, Afflictions, and Aduersities. [A Praier of Any Captiue according to the Forme of Dauid, when He was had in the Caue. Psal[m] 142.]”, in [George Flinton], transl., A Manuall of Praiers, […], [Douai?]: [s.n.], →OCLC, folio N3, recto:

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