rid

1 adjective

1 get rid of

a) to throw away something you do not want or use any more: It's time we got rid of all these old toys.

b) to take action so that you no longer have something unpleasant that you do not want: I can't get rid of this cough. | He opened the windows to get rid of the smell of stale tobacco.

c) to make someone leave because you do not like them or because they are causing problems: I had to get rid of my assistant because he was habitually late.

2 be rid of to have got rid of something or someone so that they are not there to worry or annoy you: The clerical part of his job was tedious, and he was glad to be rid of it. | be well rid of especially spoken (=be lucky to be rid of): You're well rid of her, she's nothing but trouble.

2 verb past tense rid or ridded past participle rid present participle ridding rid sb/sth of sth verb (T)

1 to remove something or someone that is bad or harmful from a place, organization etc: A huge vaccination program rid the world of smallpox.

2 rid yourself of sth to take action so that you do not have a feeling, thought, or problem that was causing you trouble any more: She's trying to rid herself of a dependence on drugs.