rock and roll

1 of 2

noun

variants or
: popular music usually played on electronically amplified instruments and characterized by a persistent heavily accented beat, repetition of simple phrases, and often country, folk, and blues elements : rock entry 2 sense 2
If many older people had been suspicious of the jukebox in the early fifties, they were even more affronted by the success of rock and roll after 1954.Dominic Sandbrook
The industry has changed. Is it no longer sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll?AP News
often used before another noun
rock and roll legends/albums
… Jack is in his corset, Jane is in her vest. And me, I'm in a rock 'n' roll band …The Velvet Underground

rock and roll

2 of 2

verb

rocked and rolled; rocking and rolling; rock and rolls

intransitive verb

1
: to perform or dance to rock and roll music
Mark headed off to Liverpool over the weekend, where he did a little rocking and rolling.Paula Zahn
2
informal : to start out or get going energetically
He was wide awake and ready to rock and roll at 5:00 A.M.Gideon Wulff
… an overwhelming majority of the U.S. population has a primal desire to unfold a badass pair of shades, slide them onto their head … throw a jacket over their shoulder, and utter, "let's rock and roll."The Onion

Examples of rock and roll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The shape is designed to slice through waves with much lower vibration through the hull, while also reducing rock and roll in rough seas. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 14 May 2024 Sebastian Stan showed off rock and roll swagger with a vintage brooch fastened at his hip. Ian Malone, Vogue, 7 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for rock and roll 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rock and roll.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rock and roll was in 1954

Dictionary Entries Near rock and roll

Cite this Entry

“Rock and roll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rock%20and%20roll. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

rock-and-roll

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rock and roll

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