trolley

1 of 2

noun

trol·​ley ˈträ-lē How to pronounce trolley (audio)
variants or less commonly trolly
plural trolleys also trollies
1
a
: a streetcar powered electrically through a trolley

called also trolley car

b
: a device that carries electric current from an overhead wire to an electrically driven vehicle
2
: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track
3
chiefly British : a cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (such as food or books)
4
dialectal, England : a cart of any of various kinds

trolley

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly trolly
trolleyed also trollied; trolleying also trollying

transitive verb

: to convey by a trolley

intransitive verb

: to ride on a trolley

Examples of trolley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Having said that, some caddies (such as trolley sleeves) are designed specifically for luggage and won't work on a stroller — and vice versa. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Police took a suspect, 40, into custody at the nearby trolley station, and the victim was taken to a hospital with neck wounds that weren’t considered to be life-threatening, the officer said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023 Park in the Cup of Love Ministry parking lot at 4032 E. Van Buren St. and ride the free trolley to the cemetery. Monica Hooper, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2023 The three-course lunch is a more affordable way to experience one of Ireland’s most exciting dining rooms—just be sure to make space for the dedicated Irish coffee trolley. Aoife O'Riordain, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023 The trolley now comes to within a five-minute walk of my house. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 There’s a removable shoulder strap along with a back zip-pocket that converts into a trolley sleeve for easy transport, too. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023 Replete with poodle skirts and trolley rides, the images, now available online as part of the magazine’s tribute issue to Disney parks, tell the story of romance, adolescence and that singular Disneyland magic. Heather Knight, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023 Many of the migrants on the bus will likely be released to the trolley stations in the coming days. Kate Morrissey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023
Verb
The 360-degree spinner wheels are easy to trolley across terminals. Sian Babish, chicagotribune.com, 22 Sep. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trolley.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from troll entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of trolley was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near trolley

Cite this Entry

“Trolley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trolley. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

trolley

noun
trol·​ley
variants also trolly
ˈträl-ē
plural trolleys also trollies
1
a
: a device for carrying current from a wire to an electrically driven vehicle
b
: a streetcar that runs on tracks and gets its electric power through a trolley

called also trolley car

2
: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

Medical Definition

trolley

noun
trol·​ley
variants also trolly
plural trolleys also trollies
British
: gurney

More from Merriam-Webster on trolley

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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