roller-coaster

1 of 2

adjective

roll·​er-coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-

: marked by numerous ups and downs

an entertainer's roller-coaster career

roller coaster

2 of 2

noun

roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-

1

: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll

2

: something resembling a roller coaster

especially : behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes

an emotional roller coaster

Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence

Noun

We went for a ride on the roller coaster.

The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Weather 'roller-coaster ride' is coming to Northeast The wintry mix and rain sweeping across the Northeast continued Monday as another run of bad weather was set to hit the region this week, meteorologists say. —Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

The emotional roller coaster that stories often invoke also plays a critical role in this process; as the narrative unfolds, the brain experiences a range of emotions, from tension in conflict to relief at resolution, which helps to forge a stronger and more lasting connection with the story. —Leslie Poston, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Glenelg Glenelg will have its own roller coaster, reindeer catapult and toy factory – made of wire and lights, of course. —Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1940, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

roller coaster

noun

roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-

: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll