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

This trip through a meteoric rise to fame and the rocky romances along the way takes a shape reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s peeking at consequential nights of her past on Midnights. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 27 June 2025

The glamorous guest profile hasn’t changed much since the hotel was founded on a rocky promontory of Tuscany’s Argentario coast by Michael Graham, a British Royal Air Force pilot, and Patsy Daszel, an American socialite, in the 1960s. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 June 2025

Setting out before sunrise, Zhou spent an hour scrambling to the top of a rocky peak, praying that the elusive brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) would show. —Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025

And that relationship now appears to be on rocky footing. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 27 June 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