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Synonyms

rollicking

American  
[rol-i-king] / ˈrɒl ɪ kɪŋ /

adjective

  1. carefree and joyous.

    They had a rollicking good time.

    Synonyms:
    exuberant, gay, merry, hearty, jolly
  2. swaggering; boisterous.


rollicking 1 British  
/ ˈrɒlɪkɪŋ /

adjective

  1. boisterously carefree and swaggering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rollicking 2 British  
/ ˈrɒlɪkɪŋ /

noun

  1. informal a very severe telling-off; dressing-down

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of rollicking

First recorded in 1805–15; rollick + -ing 2

Explanation

Something that's rollicking is really fun and playful. When you throw a party, you hope your friends will describe it as rollicking. Parties with live music and great food are usually rollicking, and a wonderful game of charades with your family can also be rollicking. You might even describe a funny movie or a song you can dance to this way. The root of rollicking is a nineteenth century verb that we don't use much these days, rollick, "to behave exuberantly." It, in turn, is most likely a combination of frolic and roll.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Tremors”: Rollicking fun, with the dad from “Family Ties” freaking us out as a survivalist dude.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2013

Rollicking "Country Gardens," like much of his music, is based on a folk tune, an English morris dance.

From Time Magazine Archive

She has won this distinction at the hands of Charles Frohman by the excellence of her work in the support of Sam Bernard during the exploitation of "The Girl from Kay's" and "The Rollicking Girl."

From The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 6 August 1906 by Various

Chewing Gum ran nowhere to Earthly Paradise in the Newberry Stakes this year, and Earthly Paradise, all out to win, was beaten a month ago by seven lengths at Warwick, by Rollicking Lady.

From The Summons by Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)

Rollicking, reckless, uproarious fun is the key-note; though a more serious intention is always latent underneath.

From The Eleven Comedies, Volume 1 by Aristophanes