rock and roll
noun
\ ˌrä-kən-ˈrōl
\
\
variants:
or rock 'n' roll
Definition of rock and roll
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
verb
rocked and rolled;
rocking and rolling;
rock and rolls
Definition of rock and roll (Entry 2 of 2)
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
Ladies’ department stores such as the one in which he is shown hawking his new line of merch are not very rock and roll. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "A Bad Boy Faces Middle Age," 11 Sep. 2019 Black aviators, a nude lip, and a plunging neckline punctuated by a duet of chains finished the fall-ready moment, which felt like a hard lean into Cyrus's emerging identity as a pop start with a penchant for rock and roll. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Miley Cyrus Takes Wet Hair to the Tom Ford Front Row," 10 Sep. 2019 Classic-rock bands are the Mount Rushmore of rock and roll. — Chris Varias, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Stanley of Kiss: 'We have a certain expiration date'," 22 Aug. 2019 Unlike science fiction or rock and roll or fantasy literature or superheroes, Mad could never escape its ghetto, by design. — Jordan Orlando, The New Yorker, "A World Without Mad Magazine," 25 July 2019 King’s alternative sound blends pop, rock and roll and bluegrass. — Anchorage Daily News, "Fun things this week: Elle King at the state fair, Queen sing-along and reptiles for the whole family," 29 Aug. 2019 Ever since, Beatles fans from across the globe have made the pilgrimage to stride across the most famous crosswalk in rock and roll. — Charlie D'agata, CBS News, "Beatles' iconic "Abbey Road" album cover turns 50," 8 Aug. 2019 On July 6, Ashlee Paradis performed a selection of acoustic blues, soul, and rock and roll. — Melanie Savage, courant.com, "Staehly Farm Winery Hosts Reds, Whites and Barbecue For July 4th Weekend," 12 July 2019 Joe Cocker was amazing and Sha Na Na was a surprise in that rock and roll lineup — but everyone loved them, too. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, "'No idea what to expect.' Louisville women remember Woodstock 50 years later," 9 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rock and roll.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for rock and roll
rock and roll
noun
English Language Learners Definition of rock and roll
: rock music
See the full definition for rock and roll in the English Language Learners Dictionary
rock and roll
noun
variants:
or rock ‘n’ roll