rock

1 of 4

verb

ˈräk 

rocked; rocking; rocks

transitive verb

1

: to move back and forth in or as if in a cradle

She gently rocked the baby to sleep.

2

a

: to cause to sway back and forth

a boat rocked by the waves

b(1)

: to cause to shake violently

An earthquake rocked the town.

(2)

: to daze with or as if with a vigorous blow

A hard right rocked the contender.

(3)

: to astonish or disturb greatly

The scandal rocked the community.

3

: to rouse to excitement (as by performing rock music)

The band rocked the crowd.

4

informal : to wear, display, or feature (something striking, distinctive, or attractive)

Carly Patterson is rocking a tight yellow T-shirt with jeans and high wooden sandals, belting her lyrics into a microphone.

—Kate Hairopolous

In the picture he's rocking a beard, a pair of shades and a striped t-shirt.

—Sam Haysom

intransitive verb

1

: to become moved backward and forward under often violent impact

The tower rocked under the impact of the hurricane.

also : to move gently back and forth

rocked on the balls of his feet

2

: to move forward at a steady pace

also : to move forward at a high speed

the train rocked through the countryside

3

: to sing, dance to, or play rock music

The band was rocking all night long.

4

slang : to be extremely enjoyable, pleasing, or effective

her new car rocks

rock

2 of 4

noun (1)

often attributive

1

: a rocking movement

2

: popular music usually played on electronically amplified instruments and characterized by a persistent heavily accented beat, repetition of simple phrases, and often country, folk, and blues elements

rock

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a large mass of stone forming a cliff, promontory, or peak

2

: a concreted mass of stony material

also : broken pieces of such masses

3

: consolidated or unconsolidated solid mineral matter

also : a particular mass of it

4

a

: something like a rock in firmness:

(1)

: foundation, support

The superintendent describes [Michael] Doran as a rock on which the success of the school is and will continue to be built.

—Henry County (Kentucky) Local

(2)

: refuge

a rock of independent thought … in an ocean of parochialism

—Thomas Molnar

b

: something that threatens or causes disaster

—often used in plural

By the late 1930's, the university, so near the rocks in preceding years, had become one of the best-rounded educational institutions in the country.

—Current Biography

5

a

: a flavored stick candy with color running through

b

: rock candy sense 1

6

slang

a

: gem

b

: diamond

7

a

: a small crystallized mass of crack cocaine

b

: crack sense 9

8

: the ball used in basketball

Who's going to fight through screens or risk lumps and lacerations lunging into the stands after the rock?

—Chris Broussard

rock adjective

rocklike

ˈräk-ˌlīk 

adjective

rock

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

: distaff

2

: the wool or flax on a distaff

Phrases

rock the boat

: to do something that disturbs the equilibrium of a situation

between a rock and a hard place or less commonly between the rock and the hard place

: in a difficult or uncomfortable position with no attractive way out

on the rocks

1

: in or into a state of destruction or wreckage

their marriage is on the rocks

2

: on ice cubes

bourbon on the rocks

Synonyms

Verb

• careen
• lurch
• pitch
• roll
• seesaw
• sway
• toss
• wobble
• wabble

Noun (2)

• brilliant
• gem
• gemstone
• jewel

Choose the Right Synonym for rock

shake, agitate, rock, convulse mean to move up and down or to and fro with some violence.

shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

Examples of rock in a Sentence

Verb

She gently rocked the baby to sleep.

He rocked back and forth while he stood waiting.

The boat rocked back and forth on the waves.

An earthquake rocked the town.

The building was rocked by an explosion.

The news of the murders rocked the town.

Their invention rocked the computer industry.

The band rocked the crowd.

Noun (2)

a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

International executives will have to contend with a region rocked by geopolitical tensions, with the threat of further military confrontation between Israel and Iran at the highest levels in decades. —Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2024

Later in the film, during another vote, an explosion rocks the chapel, causing dust and rubble to fall on the cardinals. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024

Noun

The chart-topper has scored hits in many different styles, including pop, electronic, rock, and alternative art. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

This show has moments of humor, reflection, and pure rock & roll. —EW.com, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rokken, from Old English roccian; akin to Old High German rucken to cause to move

Noun (2)

Middle English rokke, from Old French dialect (Norman & Picard) roke, from Vulgar Latin *rocca

Noun (3)

Middle English roc, from Middle Dutch rocke; akin to Old High German rocko distaff

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rock

• acid rock
• alternative rock
• alt-rock
• anti-rock
• art-rock
• (as) solid as a rock
• between a rock and a hard place
• between the rock and the hard place
• country rock
• glam rock
• glitter rock
• hard as a rock
• hard rock
• hit/reach rock bottom
• jazz-rock
• live under a rock
• phosphate rock
• pre-rock
• punk rock
• rock and roll
• rock and roller
• rock bass
• rock bottom
• rock brake
• rock candy
• rock climbing
• rock cod
• rock crystal
• rock dassie
• rock dove
• rock garden
• rock-hard
• rock hind
• rock hound
• rock hyrax
• rock lobster
• rock maple
• rock oil
• rock out
• rock pigeon
• rock rabbit
• rock-ribbed
• rock salt
• rock shrimp
• rock snot
• rock solid
• rock someone's world
• rock star
• rock the house
• rock tripe
• rock wallaby
• soft rock
• solid as a rock
• steady as a rock
• wall rock

Kids Definition

rock

1 of 3 verb

ˈräk 

1

: to move back and forth in or as if in a cradle

2

a

: to sway or cause to sway back and forth

b

: to cause to be upset

rocked by the news

rock

2 of 3 noun

1

: a rocking movement

2

: popular music usually having a fast tempo, strong beat, and much repetition

rock

3 of 3 noun

1

: a large mass of stone

2

a

: solid mineral deposits

b

: a lump or piece of rock

3

: something like a rock in firmness : support

rocklike adjective

Etymology

Verb

Old English roccian "to move back and forth as in a cradle"

Noun

Middle English rokke "stone, rock," from an early French dialect word roke (same meaning)

Medical Definition

rock

noun

ˈräk 

1

: a small crystallized mass of crack cocaine

2

: crack

called also rock cocaine

Geographical Definition

Rock

geographical name

ˈräk 

river 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois flowing south and southwest into the Mississippi River at the city of Rock Island