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

Kabeya followed her over just before half-time as England went to the rolling maul once more and finally made one stick.

From BBC

The team watch as our colleague walks towards the car, our cameras rolling.

From BBC

The big question is how to get that ball rolling.

From Los Angeles Times

Even if we had the time or seven different types of rolling pins, who has that much counter space?

From Los Angeles Times

When she revisited that high-octane scene on set with a more willing scene partner in Pelphrey, Jones said going tête-à-tête with him was a riveting experience: “I forgot that there were cameras rolling.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hilly 
• undulating