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

After a rocky 2024 marred by a restructuring of its sales team and lower revenues per user, Dexcom’s stock lost about 37% of its value. —Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot,bertha Coombs, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025

Hamilton has been having a rocky start to his first season with the red team. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

The second iteration of the event was already off to a rocky start after tickets went on sale in February, when the Isla Mujeres government said that no permits had been approved for the fest. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025

The site includes a central area with a cross vault and large caryatids with baskets, a large niche with a rocky backdrop and fountain, and three arms. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2025

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