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
Time, 21 Nov. 2025
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
Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Astrophotographer Osama Fathi captured a gorgeous view of a bright stellar triangle sparkling astride the glowing band of the Milky Way in the clear skies above the volcanic terrain of Egypt's Black Desert.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astride
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Adverb
Her latest project, Astride the Beast, a cultural history of women riding astride, is under contract with the University of Texas Press.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
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
Preposition
The uniforms originally featured Toussaint Louverture, the former slave who led a revolution that created the world’s first Black republic in 1804, astride a red horse.
—Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Astrophotographer Osama Fathi captured a gorgeous view of a bright stellar triangle sparkling astride the glowing band of the Milky Way in the clear skies above the volcanic terrain of Egypt's Black Desert.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for astride
Cite this Entry
“Astride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astride. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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