merry-go-round
noun
mer·ry-go-round
ˈmer-ē-gō-ˌrau̇nd 
-gə-
1
a
: an amusement park ride with seats often in the form of animals (such as horses) revolving about a fixed center
The children grabbed each other by the hand and danced off in the direction of the merry-go-round, toward the wonderful music and the wonderful adventure and the wonderful excitement …—
E. B. White
E. B. Whitecalled also carousel
b
: a children's playground apparatus consisting of a platform that revolves about a fixed center
And every day at recess, Reuben would push us on the merry-go-round on the playground. He would push us really fast, and we all thought Reuben made recess great fun—as long as we held on tight and didn't fall off as we whirled around.—Terri Auchter
Terri Auchter2
: a cycle of activity that is complex, fast-paced, or difficult to break out of
the corporate merry-go-round
Examples of merry-go-round in a Sentence
weary of the daily merry-go-round of commuting to his job in the city
Recent Examples on the Web
For them – and the countless people who've enjoyed a ride on a merry-go-round – carousels are more than mechanical novelties.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Miami Christian got three straight singles to start off the final inning, and the merry-go-round was in motion.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
This will be yet another trip on the merry-go-round of political theater in Washington.
—Karina Ayala-Bermejo, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Alexa Guzman hopped on a merry-go-round with a group of fourth graders during recess at Lion Magnet Elementary School, as one of her classmates pushed her around, as a group of young students clung to their teenage guest.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for merry-go-round
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Miami Christian got three straight singles to start off the final inning, and the merry-go-round was in motion.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
This will be yet another trip on the merry-go-round of political theater in Washington.
—Karina Ayala-Bermejo, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Alexa Guzman hopped on a merry-go-round with a group of fourth graders during recess at Lion Magnet Elementary School, as one of her classmates pushed her around, as a group of young students clung to their teenage guest.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for merry-go-round
Cite this Entry
“Merry-go-round.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merry-go-round. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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