roughhouse

1 of 2

noun

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce roughhouse (audio)
: violence or rough boisterous play

roughhouse

2 of 2

verb

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce roughhouse (audio)
-ˌhau̇z
roughhoused; roughhousing

transitive verb

: to treat in a boisterously rough manner

intransitive verb

: to engage in roughhouse

Examples of roughhouse in a Sentence

Noun their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room Verb The kids were roughhousing in the living room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This makes the roughhouse ballet a satisfying bridge to the final scene in Roberta’s room, where their vulnerabilities are revealed. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 Weighing between eight and 10 pounds, these pooches are not ideal for young kids who tend to roughhouse. Country Living, 1 May 2023
Verb
While the attempt is made to laugh this off as the result of some sort of roughhousing with Chelsea, even Chrishell suggests to the camera that there’s a more adult explanation. Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 There were nights spent roughhousing at the fire station, maybe engaging in a pillow fight or two. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for roughhouse 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of roughhouse was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near roughhouse

Cite this Entry

“Roughhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roughhouse. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

roughhouse

1 of 2 noun
rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce roughhouse (audio)
: violence or rough noisy play

roughhouse

2 of 2 verb
rough·​house -ˌhau̇s How to pronounce roughhouse (audio)
-ˌhau̇z
roughhoused; roughhousing
: to take part in roughhouse

More from Merriam-Webster on roughhouse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!