rolling

American  

[roh-ling] / ˈroʊ lɪŋ /

noun

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

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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.

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.

rolling British  

/ 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

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adverb

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

Other Word Forms

• rollingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of rolling

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

Example Sentences

Younger kids can romp around on rolling blue installations that mimic waves, slide a 'Ponyo' figure across an ocean wall, or hide in a replica of Sosuke's green bucket which he used to collect goldfish.

From Barron's

With rolling power cuts, hotel closures, and flight routes suspended for lack of fuel, tourists are gradually emptying out of Cuba, deepening a severe crisis on the cash-strapped island.

From Barron's

Russia is rolling out new features for Max and hopes it ultimately will become a homegrown super-app comparable to China’s WeChat, with a banking element and a portal to government services.

From The Wall Street Journal

The investor data are still rolling out, with 13F filings for the fourth quarter of 2025 not due until Feb. 14.

From MarketWatch

Grid operators and utilities from the Midwest to New England to Florida managed tighter supplies and issued varying levels of alerts—but avoided rolling blackouts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• hilly
• undulating