roll·er-coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 
ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-
: marked by numerous ups and downs
an entertainer's roller-coaster career
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
1
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll
2
: something resembling a roller coaster
especially
: behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes
an emotional roller coaster
Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence
Noun
We went for a ride on the roller coaster.
The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Hickey,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Both teams have had a roller-coaster group stage, but Germany has been the better of the two.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 July 2026
In a roller coaster World Cup match, Argentina narrowly beat the African island nation of Cape Verde 3-2 in a game that extended into extra time.
—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
3 July 2026
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Adjective
Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a winner in the sixth minute of injury time while two European powerhouses crashed out in penalty shootouts in a roller-coaster day of elimination action.
—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Both teams have had a roller-coaster group stage, but Germany has been the better of the two.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
Noun
The roller coaster and the monorail are stopped on their tracks.
—
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 July 2026
In a roller coaster World Cup match, Argentina narrowly beat the African island nation of Cape Verde 3-2 in a game that extended into extra time.
—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for roller-coaster
Cite this Entry
“Roller-coaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roller coaster
noun
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll
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