rodeo

1 of 2

noun

ro·​deo ˈrō-dē-ˌō  rə-ˈdā-(ˌ)ō 

plural rodeos

1

: roundup

2

a

: a public performance featuring bronco riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and Brahma bull riding

b

: a contest resembling a rodeo

rodeo

2 of 2

verb

rodeoed; rodeoing; rodeos

intransitive verb

: to participate in a rodeo

Examples of rodeo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Phaedra, not new to this rodeo, urges them to name names and put it all on the table. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026

The city of Mabank’s fire chief was struck and killed Saturday night while directing traffic for a rodeo, authorities said. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

Verb

His father, who rodeoed around Wisconsin in his spare time, raised cattle for dairy farms. — Roy Bragg, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2018

The fee includes a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, corn mazes, giant slides, tube slides, peddle carts, rat racers, a play area, duck races rodeo ropes course, corn crib caverns and more. — Adriana Ramirez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish, from rodear to surround, from rueda wheel, from Latin rota — more at roll

First Known Use

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rodeo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

rodeo

noun

ro·​deo

ˈrōd-ē-ˌō, 

rə-ˈdā-ō

plural rodeos

1

: a roundup of cattle

2

: an exhibition featuring cowboy skills (as riding and roping)

Etymology

Noun

from Spanish rodear "to surround," from rueda "a wheel," from Latin rota (same meaning)