noun
rollercoaster
ROH-luh-kohs-tuh
noun
1
An amusement park ride on a track that climbs, drops, and turns sharply.
"We screamed the whole way down on the rollercoaster."
2
A situation marked by extreme, rapid ups and downs, especially emotionally.
"Her first year at university was an emotional rollercoaster."
How to Use Rollercoaster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the fairground ride, or, figuratively, a period full of dramatic highs and lows.
Common pairings
emotional rollercoaster
ride the rollercoaster
Word Forms
rollercoasters plural
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Etymology
A fusion of "roller" and "coaster", describing the ride's rolling, coasting motion.