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

Many of the rooms at this ultra-luxe hideaway dangle from rocky ledges, are sandwiched between cliff crevices or are embedded like caves in the interior of the mountains, connecting guests intimately with the landscape. —Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026

While an asteroid is a small, rocky object often found in orbit of Mars and Jupiter, and a comet is a space object made of ice and dust, meteors are a result of a space rock entering Earth's atmosphere. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 30 May 2026

Another tough stretch for Brown-Forman The pause comes during a rocky period for Brown-Forman as a whole. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

Materials were brought in by ships on the rocky shores, the house parts were all pre-cut and then this was before the main road was built. —AFAR Media, 30 May 2026

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

Rhymes for rocky

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• jockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

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