English Reference
adjective · verb · noun

rocking

adj. · v. · n.
US /ˈɹɑkɪŋ/ UK /ɹˈɒkɪŋ/ rock·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

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

    adj.characterised by a rhythmic swaying or oscillating motion.

    Simple

    The baby fell asleep quickly in the rocking chair.

    In context

    The rocking motion of the boat was gentle at first, but it soon became violent as the storm moved closer to the coast.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.very good, exciting, or impressive.

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

    Simple

    That was a rocking performance by the band last night.

    In context

    The atmosphere at the festival was absolutely rocking, with thousands of fans dancing until the early hours of the morning.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    By rocking the cradle with her foot, she managed to keep the infant quiet while she finished her work.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the act or sound of something moving back and forth.

    n.the action or an instance of swaying or tilting rhythmically.

    Simple

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

    In context

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


From rock + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated