1
: with one leg on each side : astride a horse
she rode astride, not sidesaddle
2
: with the legs stretched wide apart
standing astride
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
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
Matt Dutile, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
War, astride its red steed, used to be armed with a sword rather than the twelve thousand nuclear warheads currently at its disposal.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astride
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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
Back at the center of the grounds, over a hundred people have lined up astride their camels for the official welcoming ceremony, and the parade of camels.
—Matt Dutile, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
War, astride its red steed, used to be armed with a sword rather than the twelve thousand nuclear warheads currently at its disposal.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for astride
Cite this Entry
“Astride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astride. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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