Rocky

'rɒki

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonGeneral
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

Covered with or consisting of rocks.

'rɒki

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

The hikers carefully navigated the rocky path.

💡 Simply: Imagine a place that's full of big stones! Like a path made of rocks. The beach was rocky because it was covered in stones.

👶 For kids: Like a place with lots of big rocks!

More Examples

2

They decided to build their cabin on the rocky slope of the mountain.

3

The shoreline was rocky, making swimming difficult.

How It's Used

Geology

"The explorer traversed the rocky terrain, encountering difficult climbs."

Landscape

"The beach was rocky, covered with pebbles and stones."

2

Full of difficulties or problems; unstable.

'rɒki

adjectivenegativemedium
General

Unstable or unpredictable; likely to cause problems.

The project had a rocky start due to funding issues.

💡 Simply: Imagine things aren't going so well; a bit of a struggle. When we had a rocky start, we were having a hard time getting started on a new project.

👶 For kids: When something is hard and has some problems!

More Examples

2

Their marriage faced a rocky patch in the early years.

3

He had a rocky interview, fumbling a few answers.

How It's Used

Business

"The company faced rocky economic times."

Relationships

"Their relationship was rocky after the disagreement."

Tip:Picture a boat on a rough, rocky sea; a turbulent situation.
3

Resembling or related to the character or films about the American boxer Rocky Balboa

'rɒki

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Literature

Resembling or related to the American boxer Rocky Balboa, or the films about him.

He gave a rocky speech at his victory.

💡 Simply: Like the character from those boxing movies; strong and resilient.

👶 For kids: Like the strong boxer Rocky!

More Examples

2

Despite his opponent's taunts, he gave a rocky response.

How It's Used

Pop Culture

"He gave a rocky speech at his victory."

Tip:Think of the strength and tenacity of Rocky Balboa.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

a rocky road

A difficult or problematic course of events.

"The new business venture faced a rocky road in the first year."

From 'rock' + '-y'. 'Rock' itself is from Old English 'roc', ultimately from Proto-Germanic.

Used in Old English to describe literal rocky landscapes and gradually extended to describe difficult circumstances.

Memory tip

Think of a path made of rocks; a rocky path.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"rock"

rocky terrainrocky startrocky relationshiprocky pathrocky shore

Common misspellings

rockierocky's

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written