roller coaster

¹

noun

1. a small gravity railroad, especially in an amusement park, having a train with open cars that moves along a high, sharply winding trestle built with steep inclines that produce sudden, speedy plunges for thrill-seeking passengers.

2. a car or train of cars for such a railroad.

3. any phenomenon, period, or experience of persistent or violent ups and downs, as one fluctuating between prosperity and recession or elation and despair.

roller-coaster

²

[roh-ler-koh-ster, roh-li-]

verb (used without object)

1. to go up and down like a roller coaster; rise and fall.

   a narrow road roller-coastering around the mountain; a light boat roller-coastering over the waves.

2. to experience a period of prosperity, happiness, security, or the like, followed by a contrasting period of economic depression, despair, or the like.

   The economy was roller-coastering throughout most of the decade.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a roller coaster.

2. resembling the progress of a ride on a roller coaster in sudden extreme changeableness.

roller coaster

noun

1. another term for big dipper

Word History and Origins

Origin of roller coaster¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Origin of roller coaster²

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Every story, and character, has a beginning and before she was taking rides on custom carts, she was riding an emotional roller coaster during the pandemic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is investing more than $1 billion in new rides and attractions in the next two years, including a new roller coaster at Magic Mountain in Valencia.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It helps that the industry’s newest and biggest ships promise onboard thrills such as virtual reality arcade games, racing waterslides and roller coasters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He talked about his affinity for roller coasters on a prior episode of his popular “New Heights” podcast, which he hosts with brother Jason, a former Philadelphia Eagles player.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Hims & Hers investors have been riding a roller coaster over the past year, as the company positioned itself the growing market for weight-loss drugs.

Read more on MarketWatch