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ride on

B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words

To keep riding, or — more importantly — when something really important depends on something else happening.

Literal meaning: To continue riding on top of something.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To continue riding without stopping.

"Despite the rain, they decided to ride on until they reached the next town."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

For an outcome, success, or result to depend critically on something.

"Everything rides on this final interview — if it goes well, she gets the job."

"A lot rides on this vote."

— BBC News, used frequently in political reporting (e.g. Brexit coverage, 2019)
Grammar: inseparable
3 A2 neutral

To travel on top of something or be carried along by a force or wave.

"The surfer rode on the enormous wave for nearly thirty seconds."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The figurative sense ('a lot rides on this') is extremely common in journalism and everyday speech. It conveys high stakes. The phrase 'a great deal rides on' is a near-fixed collocation.

Commonly used with

outcome decision result performance vote deal

Forms

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

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Synonyms

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