roll·er-coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 
ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-
: marked by numerous ups and downs
an entertainer's roller-coaster career
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
1
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll
2
: something resembling a roller coaster
especially
: behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes
an emotional roller coaster
Example Sentences
Noun
We went for a ride on the roller coaster.
The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2023
The roller-coaster extra inning loss puts No. 9 seed Alabama in an elimination game Thursday against the loser of Wednesday’s late-night game between No. 4 seed Vanderbilt and No. 5 seed Auburn.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 25 May 2023
These events weren’t full, but the audiences responded warmly — standing and dancing at their seats for the charming choruses — and the festival was a compelling proof of concept, an ambitious achievement to put an exclamation point on a roller-coaster season.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 23 May 2023
Large screens played videos featuring Carlos performing, riding a roller-coaster, watching a 2022 World Cup match in Qatar and helping make tortillas.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2023
Crude oil has been on a roller-coaster ride as a worsening demand outlook is offset by bullish supply news from the Biden administration, says Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.
—wsj.com, 10 May 2023
Subscribe now to Forbes' CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor and successfully navigate the bitcoin and crypto market roller-coaster The price of memecoin pepe has rocketed more than 700% over the last two weeks, pushing the new cryptocurrency to a $1 billion market capitalization.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 7 May 2023
All of that paled, however, next to the epic Tom-and-Shiv roller-coaster ride.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 May 2023
That makes sense, considering the roller-coaster ride of Maximum Security became rock-concert loud.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2023
Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2023
The new ride, Cedar Point's 18th roller coaster experience, will pay homage to the original Wild Mouse coaster that operated in the 1950s and '60s.
—Haadiza Ogwude, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022
The roller coaster cars — which run along the coaster’s twists, downhills and turns — are shaped like a green Lego dragon.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022
And at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Mass., EJ Hill, 37, has built an operational roller coaster, its rails painted cotton candy pink.
—Emily Lordi, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2023
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is adding a new roller coaster, one unique to San Antonio.
—Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Mar. 2023
Ciara even sported a Mickey conductor hat while riding a roller coaster.
—Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023
The amusement park has been largely silent about its plans for the record-breaking roller coaster, which seriously injured a guest standing in line in August 2021.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2023
The city attorney’s race in 2016 — the last time there was no incumbent — was a dramatic roller coaster.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2023
See More
Adjective
Yet as much as Maker has been conflicted watching this roller-coaster conference final — Mazzulla on one side and Robinson on the other — his longstanding Celtic fandom (his father was born and raised in Wakefield) makes his own choice pretty clear.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2023
The roller-coaster extra inning loss puts No. 9 seed Alabama in an elimination game Thursday against the loser of Wednesday’s late-night game between No. 4 seed Vanderbilt and No. 5 seed Auburn.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 25 May 2023
These events weren’t full, but the audiences responded warmly — standing and dancing at their seats for the charming choruses — and the festival was a compelling proof of concept, an ambitious achievement to put an exclamation point on a roller-coaster season.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 23 May 2023
Large screens played videos featuring Carlos performing, riding a roller-coaster, watching a 2022 World Cup match in Qatar and helping make tortillas.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2023
Crude oil has been on a roller-coaster ride as a worsening demand outlook is offset by bullish supply news from the Biden administration, says Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.
—wsj.com, 10 May 2023
Subscribe now to Forbes' CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor and successfully navigate the bitcoin and crypto market roller-coaster The price of memecoin pepe has rocketed more than 700% over the last two weeks, pushing the new cryptocurrency to a $1 billion market capitalization.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 7 May 2023
All of that paled, however, next to the epic Tom-and-Shiv roller-coaster ride.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 May 2023
That makes sense, considering the roller-coaster ride of Maximum Security became rock-concert loud.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2023
Noun
American Eagle: This classic wooden roller coaster has been at the park since 1981 and is the world's tallest and fastest racing wooden coaster.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2023
The new ride, Cedar Point's 18th roller coaster experience, will pay homage to the original Wild Mouse coaster that operated in the 1950s and '60s.
—Haadiza Ogwude, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022
The roller coaster cars — which run along the coaster’s twists, downhills and turns — are shaped like a green Lego dragon.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022
And at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Mass., EJ Hill, 37, has built an operational roller coaster, its rails painted cotton candy pink.
—Emily Lordi, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2023
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is adding a new roller coaster, one unique to San Antonio.
—Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Mar. 2023
Ciara even sported a Mickey conductor hat while riding a roller coaster.
—Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023
The amusement park has been largely silent about its plans for the record-breaking roller coaster, which seriously injured a guest standing in line in August 2021.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2023
The city attorney’s race in 2016 — the last time there was no incumbent — was a dramatic roller coaster.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roller-coaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near roller-coaster
Cite this Entry
“Roller-coaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
roller coaster
noun
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
-
Palter, Dissemble, and Other Words for Lying
Trust us
-
Skunk, Bayou, and Other Words with Native American Origins
You've used more than you might think
-
Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. 2
When 'thingamajig' and 'thingamabob' just won't do
-
When Were Words First Used?
Look up any year to find out
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Tree!
A quiz that’s all bark, no bite.
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing MegaQuiz: Vol. 5
Test your visual vocabulary!
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing
You know what it looks like… but what is it cal...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share