To free (something) from a hindrance or annoyance.
"The horses rid themselves of their saddles before entering the water."
simple past tense and past participle of ride
In plain English: To rid something means to get it completely away from you so there is none left behind.
"I need to get some sleep so I can rid myself of these tired eyes tomorrow."
Released from an obligation, problem, etc. (usually followed by of).
"The charity event was held to rid the community of poverty."
In plain English: Rid means having nothing left of something unwanted, such as being completely free from pests or bad habits.
"The apartment was rid with dust after they moved out for winter."
Usage: Use the adjective form only when describing something that has already been freed from an issue, such as "a rid schedule." The verb is more common in everyday speech and requires the preposition of to specify what was removed.
The word "rid" comes from Middle English ridden, which originally meant to remove debris or clear a place. It likely traces back further to the Old English verb ryddan, sharing that same meaning of clearing away obstructions.