rolling

[roh-ling]

noun

1. the action, motion, or sound of anything that rolls.

adjective

1. moving by revolving or turning over and over.

2. rising and falling in gentle slopes, as land.

   rolling hills.

3. moving in undulating billows, as clouds or waves.

   Jessica felt a peace steal over her as she watched the rolling waves.

4. rocking or swaying from side to side.

   The rolling movement of the train car lulled most of the passengers to sleep.

5. turning or folding over, as a collar.

6. producing a deep, continuous sound.

   rolling thunder.

7. steadily moving onward in a series of stages.

   a rolling program of renovations.

rolling

/ ˈrəʊlɪŋ /

adjective

1. having gentle rising and falling slopes; undulating

   rolling country

2. progressing or spreading by stages or by occurrences in different places in succession, with continued or increasing effectiveness

   three weeks of rolling strikes disrupted schools

3. subject to regular review and updating

   a rolling plan for overseas development

4. deeply resounding; reverberating

   rolling thunder

5. slang,  extremely rich

6. that may be turned up or down

   a rolling hat brim

adverb

1. slang,  swaying or staggering (in the phrase rolling drunk )

Other Word Forms

• rollingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rolling¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English; roll, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. rolling in (something), luxuriating or abounding in (something, especially money).

   As a nonprofit, the Tandy Academy of Music is not exactly rolling in cash.

2. rolling (in the aisles), (of an audience or audience member) convulsed with laughter: Also in the aisles

   Arden had her audience in tears with one song, then rolling in the aisles with her humor.

Example Sentences

“She’s the type of actor who I can say, ‘What’s in my head is one tear rolling down,’ and she can give it to me,” Bronstein says.

From Los Angeles Times

Hollywood is not rolling out the red carpet for Tilly Norwood – an "AI actor" that has been causing a stir after its Dutch creators said the synthetic performer is in talks with talent agencies.

From BBC

The court asked the government to include handwriting lessons in the medical school curriculum and set a two-year timeline for rolling out digitised prescriptions.

From BBC

The company faced scrutiny from EU regulators over its approach to rolling out its subscriptions for the bloc's users.

From BBC

There was no rolling up of the sleeves when their team-mate trotted off.

From BBC

Related Words

• hilly 
• undulating