# rocky

/ˈɹɑki/ (US) · /ɹˈɒki/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rocky
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. full of rocks

adjective · CEFR B1

covered with or made of many rocks and stones.

For teachers: abounding in or consisting of rocks; describing terrain that is difficult to traverse due to stones.

- The path was very rocky, so we had to walk carefully to avoid falling.
- The hikers struggled to maintain their pace across the rocky terrain of the ridge, where loose shale made every step unpredictable.

### 2. difficult or unstable

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

having many problems or likely to fail.

For teachers: marked by difficulties, instability, or uncertainty; frequently used to describe relationships or business ventures.

- The new company had a rocky start, but things are much better now.
- After a rocky first year marked by constant disagreements, the partners finally established a workflow that allowed the project to move forward.

Usage: Often used with nouns like 'start', 'relationship', or 'marriage'.

Teaching tip: This is a very common metaphorical use in journalism and daily conversation to describe a bad start to something.

### 3. unsteady or dizzy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

feeling weak, sick, or like you might fall over.

For teachers: physically unsteady or weak, often as a result of illness, exhaustion, or a sudden shock.

- I felt a bit rocky after the long boat trip, so I sat down for a while.
- He still felt somewhat rocky on his feet after the surgery, requiring the assistance of a nurse to walk down the hallway.

Teaching tip: This sense is less common than the others and usually describes a temporary physical state.

## Examples

- The path to the beach is very rocky.
- After a rocky start to their marriage, the couple decided to see a counselor to improve their communication.
- The startup faced a rocky first year as fluctuating market conditions and internal disagreements threatened to derail their initial product launch.

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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.