Role vs roll
Role is a noun for a part or job: a character an actor plays, or the part a person or thing plays in something. Roll is for everything else, like turning over and over, a bread roll, or a roll of the dice.
role noun
A part someone plays, such as a character in a movie, or the job something does in a larger group or system.
- The director offered her the role of a grieving mother.
- Exercise plays an important role in staying healthy.
roll verb
To turn over and over, or to move along by turning on a surface, or to wrap something into a ball or tube.
- The ball rolled down the hill and into the street.
- She rolled the yoga mat and tucked it under her arm.
Watch out
- The two words sound exactly the same, so you have to choose the spelling from the meaning.
- Roll is also a noun. It can mean a small round piece of bread, a throw of the dice, a list of names (roll call), or, in on a roll, a run of success.He filled a soft roll with ham and cheese.
- Role is not only for actors. It also means the part a person plays at work or in society.The new employee's role included managing the budget and approving expenses.
Test yourself
Teachers play an important blank in a child's life.
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role. This is the part teachers play, so it needs role.
The coin fell and began to blank across the floor.
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roll. The coin turns over and over as it moves.
He got the lead blank in the school play.
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role. This is the character an actor plays.
After five wins in a row, our team is on a blank.
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roll. On a roll means having a run of successes.