roll

SayROHL/ɹoʊl/UK/ɹəʊl/

Verbrolls, rolling, rolled

Noun pluralrolls

Often confused with role

59 meanings of roll

Practice

1
keep turningverbtransitive or intransitive
To turn over and over, or to move along by turning on a surface.
Like a pencil that turns over and over when you push it across a desk.
The ball rolled down the hill and into the pond.
Watch the marble roll across the kitchen table.
UsageYou roll a ball, and the ball rolls.
Similartumble, trundle, wheel, turn
Note
2
on wheelsverbintransitive
To move along on wheels or rollers.
Like a shopping cart moving across a smooth floor.
The cart rolled smoothly across the warehouse floor.
Heavy trolleys roll easily on these tracks.
Similartrundle, glide, coast, rumble
3
breadnouncountable
A small round piece of baked bread for one person.
She buttered a warm roll at dinner.
The bakery sells fresh rolls every morning.
UsageAlso called a bread roll.
Similarbun, bap
Note
4
curl into tubeverbtransitive
To wrap something around itself, or shape it into a ball or tube.
Like turning a flat piece of paper into a round tube.
He rolled the poster into a tight tube.
Roll the dough into small balls before baking.
UsageSay roll up a mat, or roll clay into a ball.
Similarcoil, wind, curl, furl, wrap
Oppositeunroll, unwind, unfurl
5
name listnouncountable
An official list of names or things.
Like the list of names a teacher checks each morning.
The teacher checked the roll to see who was absent.
His name was added to the club's roll last week.
UsageSay call the roll, or a name is on the roll.
Similarlist, register, roster, index
Note
6
a throw (dice)nouncountable
A throw of one or more dice, or the total it gives.
A lucky roll gave her the points she needed to win.
His final roll came up double sixes.
UsageSay a roll of the dice.
Similarthrow, cast, toss
7
throw diceverbtransitive or intransitive
To throw dice and get a certain number or pattern.
She rolled a six and moved her piece ahead.
You need to roll well to win this round.
UsageSay roll a six or roll doubles.
Similarthrow, cast, toss
8
flow onwardverbfigurativelyintransitive
To move forward in a smooth, wave-like flow.
Like ocean waves moving forward one after another.
Heavy fog rolled across the valley at dawn.
Waves roll onto the shore one after another.
UsageSay the years roll on, or clouds roll in.
Similarsurge, flow, sweep, stream, pour
Note
9
a turning motionnouncountable
The action of turning over and over, or being turned that way.
One roll of the log sent it splashing into the river.
The coin made a long roll across the kitchen floor.
Similartumble, turn, spin, rotation
10
press flatverbtransitive
To press or flatten something using a round tool that turns.
Like flattening dough with a rolling pin.
She rolled the dough until it was thin and flat.
You roll the clay flat before cutting out shapes.
Similarflatten, press, smooth, level, compact
11
cylinder (paper)nouncountable
A long piece of something like cloth, paper, tape or tobacco, rolled up into a tube shape.
Like cloth wound up the way paper towels wrap around a tube.
She bought a roll of blue cotton for the curtains.
The shop stacked rolls of fabric along the wall.
UsageSay a roll of tape.
Similarbolt, reel, spool, coil
12
lucky streaknouncountable
A time when you keep succeeding or having good luck, again and again.
After three wins, she was really on a roll.
Our team is on a roll, with six wins in a row.
UsageSay you are on a roll.
Similarstreak, run, tear
Oppositeslump
Note
13
bundle upverbtransitive
To wrap something up by winding a covering around it.
Like wrapping string around and around a spool.
The nurse rolled a bandage around his arm.
Roll the bottle in paper and tie it with a ribbon.
Similarwrap, bind, swathe, wind
Oppositeunwrap
14
start filmingverbtransitive or intransitive
To start a camera filming, or to begin filming.
The director told the crew to roll the cameras.
Everyone got quiet as the cameras began to roll.
Similarrecord, run, shoot
Oppositecut
Note
15
a ship's rockingnouncountable or uncountable
The side-to-side tipping movement of a ship or plane.
Like a cradle rocking from one side to the other.
The roll of the boat made several passengers feel sick.
A gentle roll rocked the ship all night long.
Similarrocking, sway, swaying, lurch
Note
16
rock (ship)verbintransitive
To tip from side to side around a line running front to back.
Like a floating log tipping from one side to the other.
The boat began to roll as the waves grew bigger.
Small planes roll more in gusty winds.
Similarrock, sway, lurch, wallow
Note
17
behaveverbslangUSintransitive
To act or deal with things in your own usual way.
That's just how we roll on weekends.
He stays calm under pressure. That's how he rolls.
UsageSay that's how we roll.
Similaroperate, work
18
spinning partnouncountable
An object that rolls, turning over and over like a wheel.
The paper got stuck because the rubber roll inside the printer was worn smooth.
Grandma pushed the wet shirts between the turning rolls on her old washing machine to squeeze out the water.
Similarroller, cylinder
Note
19
high (MDMA)verbslangintransitive
To be feeling the effects of MDMA, a drug also called ecstasy.
His friend was rolling on ecstasy and could not stop talking.
She chose not to roll at the festival and stayed sober all weekend.
UsageSaid as someone is rolling.
20
rise and fall (land)verbintransitive
To rise and fall in long waves, like hills across open country.
Green fields roll away from the farmhouse as far as you can see.
The countryside rolls gently down to the lake.
UsageOften in rolling hills or rolling countryside.
Similarundulate

Less common meanings

21
tumbling movenouncountable
A move where you tip head over heels along the ground.
The child did a forward roll across the soft mat.
Her backward roll ended in a neat standing pose.
UsageSay a forward roll.
Similarsomersault, tumble
22
set offverbcolloquialCanadaUSintransitive
To leave or start moving on a trip.
Like saying "let's go" when it is time to leave.
Let's roll before the traffic gets bad.
The crew rolled out at dawn for the long drive.
UsageLet's roll means let's go.
Similarleave, go (entry), depart
23
a fast drummingnouncountable
A fast, even drumming sound made by hitting a drum very quickly.
Like the rumble of thunder that goes on and on without a break.
The band waited for the drummer to finish the roll.
A long roll on the snare announced the start of the show.
UsageSay a drum roll.
Similartattoo
24
tumble (gym)verbintransitive
To tip head over heels along the ground.
The students learned to roll safely on the mats.
She rolled forward and sprang back to her feet.
Similartumble, somersault, flip
25
rumble loudlyverbintransitive
To make a long, deep rumbling sound.
Like the long, deep sound of thunder far away.
Thunder rolled across the dark valley all night.
We heard the drums roll before the parade began.
Similarrumble, boom, thunder, reverberate, resound
26
thunder soundnouncountable
A deep, echoing rumble of sound.
A low roll of thunder shook the windows.
Each roll of thunder made our dog hide under the bed.
UsageSay a roll of thunder.
Similarrumble, peal, boom, clap, reverberation
27
play drums fastverbtransitive
To play a drum with fast, repeated hits to make a long, smooth sound.
Like quickly tapping your fingers on a table to make one long rumbling sound.
Can you roll the snare drum while we march?
The drummer rolled the big bass drum as the curtain rose.
Similardrum, beat
28
scrollnouncountable
A piece of paper or parchment with writing on it that can be rolled up.
Like a long sheet of paper wound into a tube.
The king unrolled the ancient roll and read it aloud.
The ancient roll was covered in faded writing.
Similarscroll, record, document
Note
29
attackverbtransitive
To rob someone who is drunk, asleep, or unable to fight back, often by hurting them.
A gang rolled him in the alley behind the bar.
They tried to roll the new guy after the match.
UsageSay they rolled him for his wallet.
Similarmug, jump, attack, assault
Note
30
pronounce (r)verbtransitive
To say a sound, such as the letter r, with a fast shaking of the tongue.
Like making your tongue flutter to copy a cat's purr.
She rolls her r's when she speaks Spanish.
Try to roll the r in the word 'perro'.
UsageSay roll your r's.
Similartrill
Note
31
make your ownverbtransitive
To make your own special version of something instead of using a ready-made one.
Like cooking your own meal instead of ordering takeout.
Instead of buying software, they rolled their own version.
Some coders would rather roll their own tools than buy them.
UsageRoll your own means make it yourself.
Similarbuild, create, write, develop
Note
32
think oververbtransitive
To think about something carefully, turning it over again and again.
Like turning a stone over and over to see every side.
She rolled the idea around in her head all night.
Take some time to roll the idea around before you decide.
UsageSay roll an idea over in your mind.
Similarturn, mull, ponder
Note
33
verb
To say words in a long, loud, or deep way.
34
verbcolloquialCanadaUS
To walk slowly in a relaxed way.
35
verb
In math, to move one line or shape along another without sliding.
36
verb
In role-playing games, to make up a new character, often by throwing dice.
37
verb
To get a number by chance.
38
verb
To shift the bits in a number so those pushed off one end come back at the other.
39
verb
To travel in a boat or ship moved by the wind.
40
verbslang
To tell secrets or give evidence against others, or make someone do this.
41
verb
To go around a player while keeping the ball.
42
verbUS
To throw toilet paper all over a house, trees or yard as a joke or celebration.
43
verb
To have a practice fight with a partner in jujitsu or a similar sport.
44
verb
To move goods to a different ship than planned.
45
verb
To play the notes of a chord fast, one by one.
46
noun
A heavy roller that breaks up soil in a field.
47
noun
One of the heavy turning rollers in a mill that press and shape metal.
48
noun
A walk that sways from side to side, often looking proud.
49
noun
How much a ship leans from side to side.
50
noun
How much a plane or other vehicle is tipped to one side.
51
noun
A move where a plane spins all the way over sideways, around a line from nose to tail.
52
noun
A practice fight for a dog trained to fight.
53
nounUS
Turning a tipped-over kayak or canoe upright by yourself without getting out.
54
noun
The skill of turning a tipped kayak or canoe upright by yourself without getting out.
55
noun
A deal that closes an investment for one end date and opens a matching one for another.
56
noun
Moving the bits in a number around in a circle.
57
noun
An official written record or list.
58
nounobsolete
A person's job or part to play.
THE Methods of Government and of Humane Society, muſt be Preſerv’d, where Every Man has his Roll, and his Station Aſſign’d him ; and it is not for One Man to break in upon the Province of Another.
1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Abstemius, &c.] Fab[le] CCCXI. A Son Singing at his Brothers Funeral.”
59
noun
An old unit of sixty parchment skins.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of roll apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4, 6–10, 12–27, 29–32

From Latin "rotula," meaning "a little wheel," from "rota" ("a wheel"). It came into English through Middle English and Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Roll ultimately derives from Latin rotula, meaning a little wheel. en.wiktionary.org
Latin rotula derives from rota, meaning a wheel. en.wiktionary.org
Roll came into English through Middle English and Old French. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3, 5, 11, 28

From Latin "rotulus," meaning a rolled-up paper or list. It came into English through Middle English and Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun roll derives from Latin rotulus, meaning a rolled-up paper or list. en.wiktionary.org
The transmission was through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org