ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rocking

adj. · v. · n.
US //ˈɹɑkɪŋ// UK //ɹˈɒkɪŋ// rock·ing
  1. 1 moving back and forth (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    moving or swaying gently from side to side or back and forth.

    characterised by a rhythmic swaying or oscillating motion.

    Example

    The baby fell asleep quickly in the rocking chair.

    Example

    The rocking motion of the boat was gentle at first, but it soon became violent as the storm moved closer to the coast.
  2. 2 excellent (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    very good, exciting, or impressive.

    denoting excellence, energy, or high quality; often used to describe music, parties, or performances.

    Example

    That was a rocking performance by the band last night.

    Example

    The atmosphere at the festival was absolutely rocking, with thousands of fans dancing until the early hours of the morning.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 moving or wearing (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the action of moving back and forth, or wearing something with confidence.

    the present participle of 'rock', used for physical swaying or the idiomatic act of wearing a garment or style with flair.

    Example

    She was rocking a pair of vintage sunglasses at the beach.

    Example

    By rocking the cradle with her foot, she managed to keep the infant quiet while she finished her work.
  2. 4 the movement (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act or sound of something moving back and forth.

    the action or an instance of swaying or tilting rhythmically.

    Example

    The constant rocking of the train made it hard to write.

    Example

    The steady rocking of the vessel eventually induced a sense of calm among the passengers despite the grey skies.
Origin

From rock + -ing.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference