# rocking

/ˈɹɑkɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈɒkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rocking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. moving back and forth

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: characterised by a rhythmic swaying or oscillating motion.

- The baby fell asleep quickly in the rocking chair.
- The rocking motion of the boat was gentle at first, but it soon became violent as the storm moved closer to the coast.

### 2. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

very good, exciting, or impressive.

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

- That was a rocking performance by the band last night.
- The atmosphere at the festival was absolutely rocking, with thousands of fans dancing until the early hours of the morning.

### 3. moving or wearing

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- She was rocking a pair of vintage sunglasses at the beach.
- By rocking the cradle with her foot, she managed to keep the infant quiet while she finished her work.

### 4. the movement

noun · CEFR B2

the act or sound of something moving back and forth.

For teachers: the action or an instance of swaying or tilting rhythmically.

- The constant rocking of the train made it hard to write.
- The steady rocking of the vessel eventually induced a sense of calm among the passengers despite the grey skies.

## Examples

- That new band was absolutely rocking last night.
- She was rocking a vintage leather jacket that made everyone in the room look twice.
- The atmosphere at the stadium was rocking as the home team scored in the final minutes, securing their place in the championship for the first time in a decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.