astride

1 of 2

adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for astride 

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of astride was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near astride

Cite this Entry

“Astride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astride. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

astride

1 of 2 adverb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on astride

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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