Past Tense of Rid
Cambridge records “rid” as both the past tense and past participle of the verb “rid.” Merriam-Webster records “rid” and also “ridded.” This guide therefore leads with the cross-source form “rid” while preserving “ridded” as a documented variant without inventing an unsupported dialect or frequency ranking.
Use “rid” for the past tense and past participle when you want the form supported by both reviewed authorities. Merriam-Webster also records “ridded.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past | rid | Cross-source form. |
| past participle | rid | Cross-source form. |
| recorded alternative | ridded | Also recorded by Merriam-Webster. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Do you need a past form of the verb “rid”?
If yes: Use “rid” for the cross-source form.
If no: Use the present/base form “rid” when the clause is present; “ridding” is the -ing form.
Caveat: Merriam-Webster additionally records “ridded”; the reviewed evidence does not justify inventing a dialect or frequency rule for that variant.
Examples
The cleanup rid the room of the odor.
“Rid” is a documented simple-past form.
The treatment has rid the plants of most pests.
“Rid” is also a documented past participle.
The new process ridded the system of duplicate entries.
“Ridded” is additionally recorded by Merriam-Webster.
Further guidance
Core difference
For the simplest cross-source choice, use “rid” as the past tense and past participle.
Fast Test
Use “rid” when you want the form shared by both authorities; treat “ridded” as a recorded variant rather than automatically marking it wrong.
Usage Boundary
Do not infer a regional, register, or frequency preference for “ridded” beyond what the reviewed evidence establishes.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- RID Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records rid and also ridded as inflected forms of the verb rid.
- RID | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge records rid as both the past tense and past participle of rid.