trolley

1 of 2

noun

trol·​ley ˈträ-lē 

variants or less commonly trolly

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a streetcar powered electrically through a trolley

called also trolley car

b

: a device that carries electric current from an overhead wire to an electrically driven vehicle

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

3

chiefly British : a cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (such as food or books)

4

dialectal, England : a cart of any of various kinds

trolley

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly trolly

trolleyed also trollied; trolleying also trollying

transitive verb

: to convey by a trolley

intransitive verb

: to ride on a trolley

Examples of trolley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After a noticeable drop in school attendance due to SEPTA cuts in the first week of the new school year, the city directed a portion of its $135 million transit subsidy to restore bus and trolley service on routes that are heavily used by students. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025

The luggage trolley sleeve is ideal for sliding over my carry-on handle, and the material is lightweight yet durable—and most importantly, spill-resistant (liquids wipe right off). —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025

Verb

The 360-degree spinner wheels are easy to trolley across terminals. —Sian Babish, chicagotribune.com, 22 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from troll entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing trolley

• off one's trolley
• trackless trolley

Rhymes for trolley

• colley
• collie
• dolly
• folly
• golly
• holly
• jolley
• jolly
• lolly
• mollie
• molly
• ollie

Kids Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a device for carrying current from a wire to an electrically driven vehicle

b

: a streetcar that runs on tracks and gets its electric power through a trolley

called also trolley car

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

Medical Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē 

plural trolleys also trollies

British

: gurney