Ride-sharing Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：shared car travel (Ride-sharing)

Ride-sharing 🔊

/ˈraɪd ˌʃɛərɪŋ/

A service where people share a car ride, often using an app, to travel together and split costs.

Ride-sharing app on smartphone with passengers entering car

shared car travel 🔊

➕

/ʃeərd kɑːr ˈtrævəl/

A service where individuals traveling in the same direction share a car, often arranged via a mobile app, to reduce costs and environmental impact.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound of 'ride' (Old English rīdan, to travel on animal/vehicle) + 'sharing' (from 'share', Old English scearu, division).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture two friends sharing a car ride, splitting the fare: ride-sharing = shared travel.

📖 Example

To save money and help the environment, I use a ride-sharing app to get to work every day. 🔊 To save money and help the environment, I use a ride-sharing app to get to work every day.

🔗 Collocations

ride-sharing app – a mobile application that connects drivers and passengers for shared trips

ride-sharing service – a company or system offering shared car trips

ride-sharing driver – a person who drives their car to give rides to passengers through a ride-sharing platform

🔄 Synonyms

carpool (n.) – an arrangement where people travel together in one car, typically for commuting

ride-hailing (n.) – a service where passengers book a private ride through an app, often a taxi or private driver

car-sharing (n.) – a short-term car rental service where users can rent vehicles by the hour or minute

🚫 Antonyms

private car ownership (n.) – owning a personal vehicle for exclusive use

solo driving (n.) – driving alone in a car without any passengers

public transit (n.) – mass transportation systems like buses or trains used by the general public

🌱 Derivatives

ride-share (v.) – to participate in a ride-sharing arrangement

rideshare (n.) – alternative spelling of ride-sharing, often used as a noun

ridesharing (n.) – the same concept as ride-sharing, sometimes written as one word

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'ride-sharing' gained prominence with the 2010s rise of smartphone apps like Uber and Lyft, enabling drivers and passengers to share trips and split costs, transforming urban transport.