roll
rohl
Roll (verb) means to move by turning over and over on a surface. Example: “The ball rolled off the table and under the couch.”
verb
1
To move by turning over and over on a surface.
"The ball rolled off the table and under the couch."
"He rolled the barrel across the yard."
"Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she read the letter."
2
To form something into a cylindrical or spherical shape by turning it over on itself.
"She rolled the dough into a neat log before slicing it."
"He rolled up his sleeping bag and stuffed it into the pack."
"Please roll the pastry into a ball and leave it in the fridge."
3
To begin or set something in motion, especially filming or an event.
"Once the sound check was finished, the engineer said they could roll the tape."
"When the lights dimmed, the producer told the crew to roll the cameras."
"The director shouted "Roll cameras!" and the scene began."
noun
1
A small individually baked piece of bread.
"She served warm rolls with the soup."
"He buttered a crusty roll and filled it with cheese and salad."
"Fresh rolls were cooling on a rack beside the bakery window."
2
A cylindrical bundle of something rolled up.
"He grabbed a fresh roll of paper towels."
"She carried a roll of wallpaper up the stairs."
"The shop sells a roll of tape for very little money."
3
An official list of names, especially one used to record attendance or membership.
"The teacher called the roll before class began."
"Her name was missing from the club's roll, so she signed up again."
"The electoral roll lists everyone in the town who is allowed to vote."
How to use roll
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn over and over while moving, to shape something into a cylinder, or (as a noun) a small bread bun, a rolled-up bundle, or a list of names.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
roll call
bread roll
roll over
on a roll
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like roll.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- rolls
- Third person singular
- rolls
- Past tense
- rolled
- Archaic forms
- rollest, rolledst, rolleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ball _____ off the table and under the couch.
Etymology
From Middle English rollen, from Old French roller and Medieval Latin rotulare ("to roll"), ultimately from Latin rota, "a wheel".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for roll
See all rhymes for roll →Frequently asked questions
What does “roll” mean?
The word “roll” means to move by turning over and over on a surface. In plain terms, to turn over and over while moving, to shape something into a cylinder, or (as a noun) a small bread bun, a rolled-up bundle, or a list of names.
How do you pronounce “roll”?
“Roll” is pronounced rohl (/ɹoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “roll” in a sentence?
Here is “roll” used in a sentence: “The ball rolled off the table and under the couch.”
What part of speech is “roll”?
Depending on how it is used, “roll” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “roll” come from?
The word “roll” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle English rollen, from Old French roller and Medieval Latin rotulare ("to roll"), ultimately from Latin rota, "a wheel".
Is “roll” a common word?
“Roll” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “roll” have?
“Roll” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move by turning over and over on a surface.
What is the difference between 'roll' and 'role'?
They sound identical but mean different things. 'Roll' is usually a verb meaning to turn over and over, or a noun for something rolled up, like a bread roll. 'Role' is a noun meaning a part someone plays, as in a job or a character in a film. Only 'role' involves a part or function.
What are the different meanings of 'roll'?
'Roll' is versatile. It means to turn over on a surface (a ball rolls), to move on wheels (the car rolled forward), to wrap into a tube (roll the dough), and to make a deep continuous sound (thunder rolls). As a noun it can mean a list, a small loaf, or a cylinder.
What is an example of 'roll' used in a sentence?
You might say, 'The ball rolled down the hill and stopped at the fence,' where roll shows movement by turning over and over. Other examples include 'Roll the dice,' 'The waves rolled onto the shore,' and 'He rolled up his sleeves.' Each keeps the core idea of turning or continuous motion.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include roll:
