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

The investment plan is meant to replace decade-long "equipment plans" released on a rolling yearly basis until 2022, when the then-Conservative government halted publication whilst it assessed the effect of "extraordinary inflation" on its plans.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

In a beautifully melancholy story, the author tells of finding a machine named Paragon in a pool hall and setting himself the target of achieving the highest score just short of rolling the machine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

With cameras rolling, Orellana, his parents and brothers were led out in handcuffs as agents searched their home.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

This means the decline in the forward P/E has been driven by increases in rolling 12-month EPS estimates.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

In the seven decades since the American Revolution, these rolling hills had produced social revolutions by the dozens.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• hilly
• undulating