roughhousing
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/ˈrʌfˌhaʊzɪŋ/
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Rough, noisy play such as mock fighting or tumbling, and the present-participle verb for taking part in that play.
Examples
Safe roughhousing needs clear limits and room to move.
The siblings are roughhousing on the carpet.
They were roughhousing with their cousins after dinner.
The teacher stopped the roughhousing when it moved near the stairs.
Their roughhousing sounded worse than it was.
Similar words
horse around
horseplay
play-fight
scuffle
romp
wrestling
tumbling
rough play
wrestle
tumble
Meanings
Examples
The kids spent the afternoon roughhousing in the backyard.
A little roughhousing before bedtime made everyone too excited.
The teacher stopped the roughhousing when it moved near the stairs.
Their roughhousing sounded worse than it was.
Safe roughhousing needs clear limits and room to move.
Similar words
horseplay
play-fighting
rough play
romping
tumbling
wrestling
Examples
The siblings are roughhousing on the carpet.
The puppies were roughhousing in the yard.
He stopped roughhousing when the baby started crying.
They were roughhousing with their cousins after dinner.
The coach told the players to quit roughhousing near the equipment.
Similar words
play-fight
horse around
wrestle
romp
tumble
scuffle
Etymology
From roughhouse plus -ing. Roughhouse is an American formation from rough and house, recorded as a noun in the 1880s and as a verb soon after.
FAQ
What does roughhousing mean?
Roughhousing means rough, noisy physical play, such as mock fighting, wrestling, or tumbling.
Is roughhousing the same as fighting?
No. Roughhousing is playful. A real attempt to hurt someone is fighting, assault, or attacking.
Can roughhousing be a noun?
Yes. In The roughhousing got too loud, roughhousing is a noun for the activity.
Can roughhousing be a verb?
Yes. It is the present participle of roughhouse, as in The kids are roughhousing.
Can animals be roughhousing?
Yes. Puppies, kittens, and other animals can be described as roughhousing when they play roughly.
What is the past tense of roughhouse?
The past tense is roughhoused.
It is a common everyday word, not a formal legal or medical term.
What are synonyms for roughhousing?
Common synonyms include horseplay, play-fighting, rough play, romping, and tumbling.
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