# rolling

/ˈɹoʊɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rolling
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. hills and landscape

adjective · CEFR B1

describing hills or land that go up and down in a gentle, smooth way.

For teachers: characterised by gentle undulations or smooth, rising and falling slopes.

- The bus drove through miles of rolling green hills in the countryside.
- The rolling landscape of the Cotswolds provides a picturesque backdrop for hikers seeking a moderate challenge without steep climbs.

### 2. continuous or staggered

adjective · CEFR B2

happening in stages or continuing over a period of time rather than all at once.

For teachers: occurring in a staggered or continuous sequence; often used for schedules or financial periods that reset regularly.

- The city introduced rolling blackouts to save electricity during the heatwave.
- The company operates on a rolling contract basis, allowing for monthly renewals rather than a fixed annual commitment.

### 3. very wealthy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

having a lot of money; a shorter way of saying 'rolling in it'.

For teachers: an elliptical use of the phrase 'rolling in it', signifying extreme wealth or financial abundance.

- He just won the lottery, so now he is absolutely rolling.
- After the successful IPO of her tech startup, she found herself rolling, with more capital than she knew how to manage.

### 4. high on drugs

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang

feeling the effects of the drug MDMA (ecstasy).

For teachers: experiencing the peak effects of MDMA, typically characterised by euphoria and physical sensations.

- The music was loud and the lights were bright, and he realized he was rolling.
- The medical tent was prepared to assist festival-goers who were rolling too hard and experiencing dehydration or anxiety.

### 5. moving by turning

verb · CEFR A2

the action of moving by turning over and over or using wheels.

For teachers: the present participle of 'roll', describing motion through rotation or the use of wheels.

- The ball went rolling across the grass and into the pond.
- The heavy boulders came rolling down the mountainside after the earthquake, blocking the main access road to the village.

### 6. the act of rolling

noun · CEFR B2

the act of making something into a tube or moving it by turning.

For teachers: the action or process of flattening, shaping, or moving something through rotation.

- The rolling of the dough is the most important part of making a pizza.
- The industrial rolling of steel requires immense pressure and precise temperature control to ensure the sheets are of uniform thickness.

## Examples

- He finished his rolling and lit the cigarette.
- The pub floor was covered in tiny bits of tobacco from a night of constant rolling.
- Despite the availability of cheaper pre-packaged brands, many smokers prefer the ritual of rolling, claiming it allows for greater control over the density and flavor of the tobacco.

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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.