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ride out

B2 neutral separable transitive

To endure a difficult period or situation until it passes.

In plain English

To survive a hard time by staying strong until it is over — like a sailor staying on a ship during a storm.

What does "ride out" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To survive a difficult or dangerous period by enduring it until it ends.

"The small business managed to ride out the recession by cutting costs and staying focused."

We have to ride out the storm.

— Winston Churchill (paraphrase of wartime rhetoric, widely attributed); also common in modern political speeches
separable
2 A2 neutral

To leave a place on horseback, heading outward.

"The sheriff rode out at dawn to search for the missing cattle."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To ride (a horse) out through a storm or danger until it passes.

Actually means

To survive a hard time by staying strong until it is over — like a sailor staying on a ship during a storm.

Usage tip

Very common in journalism and everyday speech. Often collocates with 'storm', 'crisis', 'recession', 'difficult period'. The image comes from sailors or riders holding on through rough conditions.

Words that pair with "ride out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

storm crisis recession difficult period pandemic downturn

How to conjugate "ride out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
ride out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rides out
he/she/it
Past simple
rode out
yesterday
Past participle
ridden out
have + pp
-ing form
riding out
continuous

Hear "ride out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "ride out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "ride out"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

endure get through hold on through sit out survive weather

Keep exploring

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