# trolling

/ˈtɹoʊɫɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈəʊlɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. online provocation

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the act of posting annoying or offensive messages online to make people angry.

For teachers: the practice of posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community with the intent of provoking an emotional response.

- He realized that the angry comments were just trolling and decided to ignore them.
- The moderator noted that the sudden influx of aggressive posts was a coordinated instance of trolling designed to derail the political discussion.

### 2. fishing technique

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of fishing where you pull a baited line through the water behind a moving boat.

For teachers: a method of angling where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water behind a moving boat.

- We spent the morning trolling for salmon in the middle of the lake.
- Successful trolling requires precise control of the boat's speed to ensure the lure mimics the movement of live prey at the correct depth.

## Examples

- Online trolling can be very hurtful to people.
- The moderator banned several accounts for persistent trolling and harassment in the comments section.

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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.