roughhouse

1 of 2

noun

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

: violence or rough boisterous play

roughhouse

2 of 2

verb

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

-ˌhau̇z

roughhoused; roughhousing

transitive verb

: to treat in a boisterously rough manner

in the yard, roughhousing the kids

intransitive verb

: to engage in roughhouse

The kids were roughhousing in the family room.

Synonyms of roughhouse

Noun

• roughhousing
• joking
• horseplay
• clowning
• funning
• monkeying
• tomfoolery
• buffoonery
• skylarking
• playfulness

Examples of roughhouse in a Sentence

Noun

their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room

Verb

The kids were roughhousing in the living room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Weighing between eight and 10 pounds, these pooches are not ideal for young kids who tend to roughhouse. — Country Living, 1 May 2023

The boys still have room to roughhouse—and even space to set up their Ping-Pong table near the living area. — Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026

Verb

Some surfers roughhoused in the sand. — Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025

There were nights spent roughhousing at the fire station, maybe engaging in a pillow fight or two. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for roughhouse

• alehouse
• almshouse
• backhouse
• baghouse
• bakehouse
• bathhouse
• bauhaus
• blockhouse
• boathouse
• brewhouse
• bunkhouse
• clubhouse

Kids Definition

roughhouse

1 of 2 noun

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

: violence or rough noisy play

roughhouse

2 of 2 verb

rough·​house -ˌhau̇s 

-ˌhau̇z

roughhoused; roughhousing

: to take part in roughhouse