astride

1 of 2

adverb

ə-ˈstrīd 

1

: with one leg on each side : astride a horse

she rode astride, not sidesaddle

2

: with the legs stretched wide apart

standing astride

astride

2 of 2

preposition

1

: on or above and with one leg on each side of

astride a horse

2

: placed or lying on both sides of

towns lying astride a river

3

: extending over or across : spanning, bridging

Examples of astride in a Sentence

Preposition

She was sitting astride a horse.

The town lies astride a narrow river.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Over the 20th century, riding astride transformed into a significant cultural symbol for feminists because bonds with horses and dragons became alternative routes for women to gain political power and personal agency. —Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

Bull riders and bareback contestants must stay astride for at least eight seconds in order to be eligible to win and be scored on the quality of their rides. —New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022

Preposition

In Jerusalem, for example, who even bothers to look up when a prophet in the throes boards the light rail at the Mount Herzl military cemetery, or when a messiah in white robes astride a white donkey trots down Jaffa Road past the municipal center blowing his horn? —Tova Reich, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024

The Palisades sits astride the Potomac, across from Chain Bridge Forest and Bellevue Forest in Virginia. —Andrew Depietro, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

astride

1 of 2 adverb

ə-ˈstrīd 

: with one leg on each side

astride

2 of 2 preposition

: on or above and with one leg on each side of

astride a horse