To send someone a link to 80s pop star Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" video, making them believe that they're gonna see something completely different. The meme originated in 4chan's /v/ (videogame) board, when the official "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" trailer was coming out on the game's website but couldn't be watched due to heavy traffic. Playing a prank on everyone who was reading, an anonymous 4chaner said that the trailer was on YouTube and posted a link to Astley's song. Since then, the Rick Roll has been made countless times, not only on 4chan but on the whole of the Internet.
Matt: You gotta check out this new band, it's awesome! Look, here's the video.

Rick Astley: Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down...

Jake: Arrrgh man, you just Rick Rolled me again!
by Catu February 7, 2008
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When what you think is a link to something you want to see actually directs you to a video of Rick Astley singing "Never Gonna Give You Up." This is common in the WoW community.
Awww! Rick rolled again, thought this was the new movie trailer.
by Col. Jack O'Neill May 18, 2007
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To be fooled by a mislabeled video link that takes you to an extremely 80s video of Rick Astley.
The link said it was the latest Jessica Simpson + Zhang Ziyi + Halle Berry sex tape, but I was rick rolled.
by the_urban_akm May 21, 2007
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An internet meme that lasted for almost 14 years, yet it's still popular to these days. This might be the longest lasting internet meme in existence. You thought amogus was overrated and unstoppable? Take a deeper look, because you can never stop Rick Astley. It's so overused that this might take the whole cake. If you see a link that could lead to a Rick Roll, don't click it. Doesn't matter how curious you are, just do yourself a favor and try to avoid it as much as possible!
Troll: Visit this website to get free robux!
*insert a link to a rick roll*
Me: No, I'm not clicking that!
by ThatTrainAnimationH8er March 25, 2022
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(n.) A 1987 Rick Astley Music Video "Never Gonna Give You Up" that is misleading/wrongly described as a viral/comedic video.

(v.) To "Trick" another internet user with an internet meme where the user is mislead to a 1987 Rick Astley Music Video "Never Gonna Give You Up" that is misleading/wrongly described as a viral/comedic video.
I was looking up animes to watch online. Episode 1337 didn't even come out, supposedly next week. Guess what I get? I get a Rick Roll! I got Rick Roll'd by MyG0T on YouTube and saw a Rick Astley video from 1987!
by Wee Beasties April 25, 2008
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To expose one to excess amounts of Rick Astley. More specifically, his song "Never Gonna Give You Up."
Dude: Dude, check out this amazing video.
*Dude's friend clicks on link*
*RICK ROLL*
Dude's Bud: You asshole.
by HyyperViiper February 17, 2009
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Rick Rolling is commonly thought of as linking a friend, who thinks they are getting something desirable, to a video of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", though this is not always the case. A Rick Roll may be amplified by having the window fly around your screen and, upon closure, release a stream of popups (usually displaying the lyrics) that will open as you close the previous, as seen at raygoldmodels.com. These can be humorous to witness over the shoulder, as well as to have an email response to.
Man, after I Rick Rolled my friend, he was super duper pissed off at me.

I like to close the popups as their respective lyrics end whenever I get Rick Rolled.
by Gulstab April 22, 2008
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