rodeo

1 of 2

noun

ro·​deo ˈrō-dē-ˌō  rə-ˈdā-(ˌ)ō 

plural rodeos

1

: roundup

2

a

: a public performance featuring bronco riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and Brahma bull riding

b

: a contest resembling a rodeo

rodeo

2 of 2

verb

rodeoed; rodeoing; rodeos

intransitive verb

: to participate in a rodeo

Examples of rodeo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The director’s last movie, the period western Cry Macho, starring Eastwood as an aging rodeo star tasked with traveling to Mexico to kidnap his former boss’s estranged son, was received as a flop. —Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024

The memory of you laughs, tells your rodeo tales of trips And girls, and there are always cars to buy and sell. —Joy Harjo, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

After Jimmy breaks his promise to John (Kevin Costner) to not rodeo ever again, he's sent over to the Sixes to become a real cowboy. —Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 21 Feb. 2022

After Jimmy broke his promise to John (Kevin Costner) — to not rodeo ever again — the ranch hand eventually returned to Yellowstone. —Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish, from rodear to surround, from rueda wheel, from Latin rota — more at roll

First Known Use

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rodeo

noun

ro·​deo

ˈrōd-ē-ˌō,

rə-ˈdā-ō

plural rodeos

1

: a roundup of cattle

2

: an exhibition featuring cowboy skills (as riding and roping)

Etymology

Noun

from Spanish rodear "to surround," from rueda "a wheel," from Latin rota (same meaning)