rocky
- 01 B1 Intermediate
covered with or made of many rocks and stones.
abounding in or consisting of rocks; describing terrain that is difficult to traverse due to stones.
Simple“The path was very rocky, so we had to walk carefully to avoid falling.”
In context“The hikers struggled to maintain their pace across the rocky terrain of the ridge, where loose shale made every step unpredictable.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
having many problems or likely to fail.
marked by difficulties, instability, or uncertainty; frequently used to describe relationships or business ventures.
Simple“The new company had a rocky start, but things are much better now.”
In context“After a rocky first year marked by constant disagreements, the partners finally established a workflow that allowed the project to move forward.”
UsageOften used with nouns like 'start', 'relationship', or 'marriage'.
Teacher's tipThis is a very common metaphorical use in journalism and daily conversation to describe a bad start to something.
- 03 C1 Advanced
feeling weak, sick, or like you might fall over.
physically unsteady or weak, often as a result of illness, exhaustion, or a sudden shock.
Simple“I felt a bit rocky after the long boat trip, so I sat down for a while.”
In context“He still felt somewhat rocky on his feet after the surgery, requiring the assistance of a nurse to walk down the hallway.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less common than the others and usually describes a temporary physical state.
Diminutives with -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.