1
: full of sediment or dregs : muddy
2
: turbulent
roily waters

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roily was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near roily

Cite this Entry

“Roily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roily. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on roily

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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