rolling

1 of 2

present participle of roll

rolling

2 of 2

adjective

roll·​ing ˈrō-liŋ 

: not having or set to a fixed date or deadline : continually adjustable through a period of time to provide flexibility for individual circumstances

… the city is encouraging families to sign up their kids by June 26, although there is a rolling deadline until Oct. 1. The sooner families apply … the better chance they'll secure the seat they want.

—Matthew Chayes

Many law schools use a rolling admissions process, meaning they evaluate applications as they come in and release admissions decisions, one by one.

—Ilana Kowarski

The Delaware Aglands Foundation Board announced it will institute a rolling application process for its Young Farmer Loan Program to offer young farmers more flexibility in acquiring a farm.

—The Dover Post

Examples of rolling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The rolling motion helps with lymphatic drainage while the cold reduces puffiness. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

With a little nod to Deliverance, Sasha navigates the fiercely rolling river to escape, but this guy knows how to catch up, no matter how unlikely the feat. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026

The rolling motion helps with lymphatic drainage while the cold works to reduce puffiness. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026

The rolling motion helps with lymphatic drainage while the cold reduces puffiness — a two-for-one approach that takes well under a minute. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1959, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rolling

• eye rolling
• get rolling
• get/set/start the ball rolling
• keep the ball rolling
• rolling boil
• rolling hitch
• rolling in (something)
• rolling in (the) dough
• rolling mill
• rolling pin
• rolling stock

Rhymes for rolling

• bowling
• coaling
• doling
• growling
• holing
• poling
• polling
• scrolling
• shoaling
• strolling
• tolling
• trolling

Kids Definition

rolling

adjective

roll·​ing

: not having or set to a fixed date or deadline

rolling admissions