troll
1to fish for or in with a moving line, either working the line up or down with a rod as in fishing for pike, or trailing the line behind a slow-moving boat: In September, boat anglers were starting to troll the river for salmon.
to move (the line or bait) continuously through the water while fishing, as from a moving boat: As his outboard chugged past the island, he trolled his line out fifty or sixty feet behind.
to browse through (the internet, a collection, etc.) in search of something: She spends her downtime trolling websites for holiday deals.
Informal.
to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages on (the internet) for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.
to upset or provoke (others) by posting such messages.
to make such provocative comments about (others) in public: The actress was trolled on late-night TV.
to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice: Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.
to sing in the manner of a round or catch.
Archaic. to cause to turn round and round; roll.
Obsolete. to hand around, as a bowl of liquor at table.
to fish by trolling: We spent the day trolling for muskies.
to browse through the internet, a collection, etc., in search of something: I trolled through my photos for hours to find the best shots of the two of us.
Informal.
to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response: He props up his fragile ego by trolling on game sites, putting everybody else down.
to make such provocative comments in public.
Archaic. to sing with a full, rolling voice; give forth full, rolling tones.
Archaic. to be uttered or sounded in such tones.
Archaic. to roll; turn round and round.
Archaic. to move nimbly, as the tongue in speaking.
the act of trolling for fish.
a lure used in trolling for fish.
the fishing line containing the lure and hook for use in trolling.
Informal.
a person who posts inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.
a person who makes such provocative comments in public.
Archaic. a song whose parts are sung in succession; a round.
Origin of troll
1Other words from troll
- troll·er, noun
- un·trolled, adjective
Words that may be confused with troll
- trawl, troll
Words Nearby troll
Other definitions for troll (2 of 2)
(in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.
Slang. a person who lives or sleeps in a park or under a viaduct or bridge, as a derelict or poor person.
Origin of troll
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use troll in a sentence
Sometimes these answers are meant to clarify or add context, while other times creators will take on their bullies and trolls with their video responses.
TikTok’s new Q&A feature lets creators respond to fan questions using text or video | Sarah Perez | January 20, 2021 | TechCrunchNot surprisingly — and as Krzyzewski predicted — the trolls were soon out in force, claiming that Krzyzewski was reacting to the two losses.
Coach K is right: College football and basketball need their own commissioners | John Feinstein | December 17, 2020 | Washington PostWhile it’s helpful to have these held, it’s still often difficult for creators to have to deal with these comments at all, as online trolls can be unbelievably cruel.
YouTube introduces new feature to address toxic comments | Sarah Perez | December 3, 2020 | TechCrunchHow the influential adviser went from right-wing troll to the driving force behind Trumpism.
The campaign draws on the spam-like behavior of bots and trolls, with the same or similar language posted repeatedly across social media.
Pro-Trump youth group enlists teens in secretive campaign likened to a ‘troll farm,’ prompting rebuke by Facebook and Twitter | Isaac Stanley-Becker | September 15, 2020 | Washington Post
Oh, and the first press image they released was a pair of black dudes in tracksuits as a troll of sorts to NME.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More | Marlow Stern | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLena Dunham has been (crazily) accused of “sexual abuse” by right-wing troll sites for a passage in her memoir.
Welcome to Generation Overshare: Lena Dunham, Taylor Swift, and the Politics of Self-Disclosure | Marlow Stern | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut aside from making a professional troll a rich man, the Cohos did achieve their political goals.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage | Arthur Chu | October 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe problem, as Weaver and Clark explained, is that this group drools at the opportunity to troll something like ReaganBook.
And as far as trolls go, ESPN is like Jotnar, the gargantuan mountain troll wreaking havoc in the Trollhunter films.
Ling had seemed so hairy, so misshapen, like a troll out of Gothic legends.
The Devil's Asteroid | Manly Wade WellmanHer fright led to explanations and an expression of gratitude on the part of the troll-wife.
The Science of Fairy Tales | Edwin Sidney HartlandThe youths thought this sounded easy enough, so they went home with the troll to his castle.
The Olive Fairy Book | VariousOne day, as he sat in his own room, he heard the voice of the old troll beneath his window talking to another troll.
The Olive Fairy Book | VariousIt is not wonderful that both the cup and the beggar vanished; but we are to understand that the beggar was a troll.
The Science of Fairy Tales | Edwin Sidney Hartland
British Dictionary definitions for troll (1 of 2)
/ (trəʊl) /
angling
to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat
to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling
to fish (for) by trolling
to roll or cause to roll
archaic to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice
(intr) British informal to walk or stroll
(intr) homosexual slang to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise
(intr) computing slang to post deliberately inflammatory articles on an internet discussion board
the act or an instance of trolling
angling a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner
computing slang a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles to an internet discussion
Origin of troll
1Derived forms of troll
- troller, noun
British Dictionary definitions for troll (2 of 2)
/ (trəʊl) /
(in Scandinavian folklore) one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants
Origin of troll
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse