rollicking

[ rol-i-king ]

/ ˈrɒl ɪ kɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rollicking ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

carefree and joyous: They had a rollicking good time.

swaggering; boisterous.

Nearby words

roller-skate, rollerball, rollerblade, rolliche, rollick, rollicking, rollicksome, rolling, rolling bearing, rolling boil, rolling friction

Origin of rollicking

First recorded in 1805–15; rollick + -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR rollicking

1 jolly, hearty, merry, gay, exuberant.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rollicking ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

rol·lick·ing·ly, adverbrol·lick·ing·ness, noun

Definition for rollicking (2 of 2)

rollick

[ rol-ik ]

/ ˈrɒl ɪk /

verb (used without object)

to move or act in a carefree, frolicsome manner; behave in a free, hearty, lively, or jovial way.

Origin of rollick

1820–30; blend of romp and frolic

Related forms

rol·lick·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rollicking

“Adelie penguins are the most lovable, rollicking, comical kind,” the story read.
Lovable ‘Madagascar’ Penguins Are Known to Rape and Torture in Real Life|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Game of Thrones may be rollicking fantasy, but beneath its bloody surface it is also about our dysfunctional political system.
Daenerys Goes to Washington: The Modern Politics of ‘Game of Thrones’|Jedediah Purdy|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The press release touting the event promised a rollicking good time: “Tea Party Rocks Washington.”
Tea Party Is 5! No More Tantrums?|Michelle Cottle|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The author of the rollicking spy novel Angelmaker, just out in paperback, tells us why reading novels is difficult for him.
Book Bag: What Nick Harkaway Is Reading|Nick Harkaway|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST

“We had a rollicking time in the south of France for several months,” Cannon said, noting Sue visited the set several times.
Death of a Hollywood Superagent|Lorenza Muñoz|October 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He carried the marks of his calling in the devil-may-care poise of his body, in his clothing, in his rollicking Irish eyes.
The Trail of Conflict|Emilie Baker Loring
Though he tried to make them rollicking and merry, he succeeded only in giving a number of doleful whines.
The Tale of Bobby Bobolink|Arthur Scott Bailey
I am not one to sit upon the shore and write you poetry (of the kind that is described as rollicking) about it.
Ship-Bored|Julian Street
Then all at once he laughed,--a rollicking, merry laugh,--and threw off his furious manner as one does an old coat.
Master Skylark|John Bennett
There were already about twenty rollicking boys hitched on, when one little fellow dropped off behind.
Moody's Stories|Dwight Lyman Moody

British Dictionary definitions for rollicking (1 of 3)

rollicking

/ (ˈrɒlɪkɪŋ) /

adjective

boisterously carefree and swaggering

British Dictionary definitions for rollicking (2 of 3)

rollicking

/ (ˈrɒlɪkɪŋ) /

noun

British informal a very severe telling-off; dressing-down

Word Origin for rollicking

C20: from rollick (vb) (in former sense: to be angry, make a fuss); perhaps influenced by bollocking

British Dictionary definitions for rollicking (3 of 3)

rollick

/ (ˈrɒlɪk) /

verb

(intr) to behave in a carefree, frolicsome, or boisterous manner

noun

a boisterous or carefree escapade or event

Word Origin for rollick

C19: of Scottish dialect origin, probably from romp + frolic

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