rocky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈrä-kē 

rockier; rockiest

1

: abounding in or consisting of rocks

2

: difficult to impress or affect : insensitive

3

: firmly held : steadfast

rocky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rockier; rockiest

1

: unstable, wobbly

2

: physically upset or mentally confused (as from drinking excessively)

3

: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult, rough

a financially rocky year

—Michael Murray

Examples of rocky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cave pearls are known to form around a nucleus, which can be made from a number of materials, such as rocky fragments, mud pieces, blue algae, wood shreds and animal bones. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

This is armchair travel at its finest: a kaleidoscope of rainbow beach umbrellas crowd the frame here; couples sunbathe on the rocky shores of the Amalfi there; behind it all, the dazzling blue waters of the Mediterranean, or Tyrrhenian Sea. —Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 11 Dec. 2024

Appointing Lara Trump to the Senate could be seen as a goodwill gesture from DeSantis to President-elect Trump, given their rocky relationship following the presidential primary. —Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

Instead of traveling over a rocky terrain covered in plenty of visual coordinating cues as originally designed, Ingenuity was forced to attempt handling a region with steep and comparatively featureless sand ripples. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English rokky, from rokke rock

Adjective (2)

rock entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rocky

• rocky road

Kids Definition

rocky

1 of 2 adjective

ˈräk-ē 

rockier; rockiest

: full of or consisting of rocks

rockiness noun

rocky

2 of 2 adjective

rockier; rockiest

1

: weak and confused and unsteady on one's feet

2

: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult

a rocky start

rockiness

-ē-nəs

noun