roller-coaster

1 of 2

adjective

roll·​er-coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər How to pronounce roller-coaster (audio)
ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-
: marked by numerous ups and downs
an entertainer's roller-coaster career

roller coaster

2 of 2

noun

roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər How to pronounce roller coaster (audio)
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

Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence

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
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.
Adjective
And as a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics. Trefis Team, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 The cousins’ eventual arrival at the home Grandma Dory left behind to escape the Nazis is handled in a way that’s unsentimental yet also credible and thoroughly touching, with a gentle twist that nicely serves the arc of David and Benji’s roller-coaster relationship. Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
The talk was a roller coaster that created some truly meaningful conversation. Csaba Toth, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Some parts of the fair are geared for kids, others for a mixed crowd, like the pirate ship and roller coasters. Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for roller-coaster 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1940, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roller-coaster was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near roller-coaster

roller chain

roller-coaster

roller coaster

Cite this Entry

“Roller-coaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

roller coaster

noun
roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər How to pronounce roller coaster (audio)
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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