rocky
/ˈrɒk.i/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
A rocky place or surface is covered with rocks or has many rocks. A rocky road or path is difficult to walk or drive on.
- We climbed the rocky hill slowly.
- The road became rocky after the village.
- 2.
A rocky situation or relationship is full of problems and likely to fail. It often suggests instability and stress.
- Their marriage had a rocky start.
- The talks entered a rocky period.
Adinary Nuance
Rocky is more specific than rough or difficult. Use rocky for places with rocks, or for situations that feel unstable and troubled. For relationships and plans, rocky often sounds more vivid than simply difficult.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đầy đá
- Spanish
- rocoso
- Chinese
- 多石的
- Japanese
- 岩だらけの
- Korean
- 돌이 많은
Etymology
Rocky comes from rock + -y, an Old English-style adjective ending. It has been used in English since Middle English to mean “full of rocks,” later also “full of problems.”
Common phrases
rocky roadrocky relationshiprocky startrocky terrain
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is rocky used only for physical places?
- No. It also describes difficult or unstable situations and relationships.
- What is the difference between rocky and rough?
- Rocky usually means full of rocks or unstable. Rough is broader and can mean uneven, difficult, or unfriendly.
- Can I say a rocky start in business writing?
- Yes. It is natural and common when a project or partnership begins badly.