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to rid

to rid

98 2.3
Make someone or something free of an unwanted thing
  • verb
  • /rɪd/
translation icon : liberar de
  • Seriously, get rid of those accounts on your feed.
  • try to rid
  • efforts to rid
  • attempt to rid

We're trying to get rid of ginger seed.

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Examples

  • You're looking to rid yourself of your competition.

  • So we can go ahead and get rid of this term.

  • So clearly it all works and we'll get rid of that.

  • So yeah, when I get rid of all those things.

  • So maybe I got rid of that fear early on.

  • So let's ask it how to get rid of eye bags.

  • We are here tonight to rid the country of a tyrant.

  • "Unbelievable," I said, trying to rid my mind of the graphic images that were filling it.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • How wonderful, for I have been working ever so hard to rid myself of any lingering accent.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The organization aims to rid the community of litter by organizing regular cleanup events.

Synonyms

to remove
vsto rid
1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

focuses on freeing from an unwanted person or thing rather than location
to rid of
vsto rid
3.0

To free someone from something harmful or unwanted

is the single-word base used in the same sense
to get rid of
vsto rid
1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

is the neutral verb form for making someone or something free
to release
vsto rid
1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

focuses on removing unwanted presence rather than releasing from confinement
to let go
vsto rid
1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

is about making free more generally, not only releasing a physical hold
to dispose
vsto rid
149 3.4

Get rid of something by throwing it away, selling it, or giving it to someone

does the same removal but not limited to physical disposal
to purge
vsto rid
49 6.3

To remove unwanted substances, things, or people by cleaning

expresses removal too but without the strong cleansing implication
to shake off
vsto rid
41 3.6

Make something unwanted go away, like an illness, a feeling, or a person following you

is used for freeing from unwanted things in any form
to cast
vsto rid
38 4.0

To take off or throw away something

is about making free from an unwanted presence rather than physical removal
to banish
vsto rid
27 6.1

Make a thought or feeling go away so it stops bothering you

covers removal of people or things beyond internal mental states
to extricate
vsto rid
22 7.6

Free a person or thing from something that traps them

focuses more generally on removing unwanted entities rather than complex traps
to let loose
vsto rid
13 3.8

Set something free from being held or controlled

is about making free specifically from unwanted people or things rather than confinement
to free
vsto rid
12 1.0

To remove something unwanted from a place or person

focuses more generally on removing unwanted people or things
to clean out
vsto rid
  • Informal
10 3.6

Remove people completely from a place or group because they are unwanted

is more general, not only about emptying a place completely
to unchain
vsto rid
6 4.1

Remove chains and other things that hold someone so they are free

covers freeing from unwanted things more generally, not only chains
to cast away
vsto rid
4 4.1

To throw away things you no longer want

covers removal broadly rather than only discarding by throwing
to cast off
vsto rid
3 4.8

To get rid of something you do not want or need

is the broader action of freeing from unwanted things
to untether
vsto rid
1 6.2

To free someone or something from limits so they can act more freely

is more general, not focused specifically on breaking attachments or limits
to disembarrass
vsto rid
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To free a person or thing from an unwanted burden like debts

has the wider sense of making free from any unwanted person or thing
to cast loose
vsto rid
1 6.7

To free something by letting go of ties or limits

is broader, not limited to unfastening physical ties
to disenthrall
vsto rid
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To free someone from control or false ideas

is the general act of making free from unwanted things or people
to disburden
vsto rid
9.0

To take away heavy things and worries from someone or something

is about making free from unwanted persons or things, not just burdens
to disencumber
vsto rid
  • Archaic
9.9

To free someone or something from a problem that makes things hard

is broader, applying to removal of unwanted elements beyond burdens

Antonyms

77 3.7

To give someone a heavy load or a difficult task

9 7.6

To make it difficult for someone or something to act

Phrasal Verbs

3.0

To free someone from something harmful or unwanted

1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

How Free

to eradicate
85 6.6
to eliminate
  • NSFW
502 3.4
to rid
98 2.3
to remove
1.5
to clear
1.5

Surface Forms

rid infinitive
ridding present participle
rids third person singular
rid past
rid past participle

Etymology

Rid comes from Old English and means 'free from' or 'clear of' something you do not want; think of making a space empty of rubbish. So to rid someone or something of a problem is to 'clear away' the unwanted thing and make them free of it.