plural rolls
1
b
: a list of names or related items : catalog
c
: an official list
the voter rolls
: such as
(1)
(2)
: a list of members of a school or class or of members of a legislative body
2
: something that is rolled up into a cylinder or ball or rounded as if rolled
rolls of fat
: such as
a
: a quantity (as of fabric or paper) rolled up to form a single package
b
: a hairstyle in which some or all of the hair is rolled or curled up or under
c
: any of various food preparations rolled up for cooking or serving
cabbage rolls
a sushi roll
especially
: a small piece of baked yeast dough
d
: a cylindrical twist of tobacco
e
: a roll of paper on which music for a player piano is recorded in perforations which actuate the keys
f
: a flexible case (as of leather) in which articles may be rolled and fastened by straps or clasps
jewelry roll
g(1)
: paper money folded or rolled into a wad
(2)
slang
: bankroll
3
: something that performs a rolling action or movement : roller
4
: a wheel for making decorative lines on book covers
also
: a design impressed by such a tool
rolled; rolling; rolls
1
a
: to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface
b
: to cause to revolve by turning over and over on or as if on an axis
c
: to cause to move in a circular manner
they rolled their eyes at the absurdity
d
: to form into a mass by turning over and over
e
: to impel forward with an easy continuous motion
f
: to cause to move in a given direction by or as if by turning a crank
rolled down the window
2
3
: to press, spread, or level with a roller : make smooth, even, or compact
hulled and rolled oats
roll paint
—often used with outrolled out the dough
4
a
: to move on rollers or wheels
rolled the patient into the operating room
b
: to cause to begin operating or moving
roll the cameras
5
a
: to sound with a full reverberating tone
rolled out the words
b
: to make a continuous beating sound upon : sound a roll upon
rolled their drums
c
: to utter with a trill
rolled his r's
d
: to play (a chord) in arpeggio style
6
: to combine so as to comprise one entity
—usually used in the phrase rolled into one
a shopping center, amusement park, and nightclub all rolled into one
7
: to rob (a drunk, sleeping, or unconscious person) usually by going through the pockets
broadly
: rob
8
1
a
: to move along a surface by rotation without sliding
b(1)
: to turn over and over
the children rolled in the grass
(2)
: to luxuriate in an abundant supply : wallow
fairly rolling in money
2
4
a
: to go forward in an easy, gentle, or undulating manner
the waves rolled in
b
: to flow in a continuous stream : pour
money was rolling in
c
: to flow as part of a stream of words or sounds
the names roll off your tongue
d
: to have an undulating contour
rolling prairie
e
: to lie extended : stretch
5
a
: to travel in a vehicle
rolling north on the highway
b
: to become carried on a stream
c
: to move on wheels
6
a
: to make a deep reverberating sound
the thunder rolls
b
: trill
7
a
: to swing from side to side
the ship heaved and rolled
b
: to walk with a swinging gait : sway
8
a
: to take the form of a cylinder or ball
b
: to respond to rolling in a specified way
9
a
: to get underway : begin to move or operate
b
: to move forward : develop and maintain impetus
the project finally got rolling
especially
: to proceed or progress with notable ease or success
the team was rolling
10
: to execute a somersault
11
of a football quarterback
: to run toward one flank usually parallel to the line of scrimmage especially before throwing a pass
—often used with out
1
a
: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum
b
: a sonorous and often rhythmical flow of speech
c
: a heavy reverberatory sound
the roll of cannon
2
: a rolling movement or an action or process involving such movement
a roll of the dice
an airplane's takeoff roll
: such as
a
: a swaying movement of the body
b
: a side-to-side movement (as of a ship or train)
c(1)
: a flight maneuver in which a complete revolution about the longitudinal axis of an airplane is made with the horizontal direction of flight being approximately maintained
(2)
: the motion of an aircraft or spacecraft about its longitudinal axis
d
: a somersault executed in contact with the ground
Synonyms
Examples of roll in a Sentence
Noun (1)
called the roll of people supposed to be in the class
Verb
The children rolled down the hill.
The ball rolled slowly to a stop.
Roll the chicken wings in the batter.
The paramedics rolled him onto the gurney.
The car rolled slowly to a stop.
A police car rolled up next to us.
The children rolled the toy car to each other.
The patient was rolled into the emergency room.
The fog soon rolled away.
Noun (2)
the squirrel did a quick roll and vanished up a tree
Recent Examples on the Web
Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2024
Both major parties expect court battles over voter rolls, mail-in ballots, and overseas ballots as polls show an incredibly tight contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
Many observers are confounded by voters’ willingness to roll the dice and reelect the intemperate Donald Trump as president.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for roll 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Complete with at-home gel manicure essentials, this kit features (drum roll…) a base coat, topcoat, acetone-free polish remover, removal clips, lamp, and satin green polish for less than $90 (a win for your wallet, too).
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2024
Both major parties expect court battles over voter rolls, mail-in ballots, and overseas ballots as polls show an incredibly tight contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Before the pandemic, venture capital money rolled into TPC.
—Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
Many observers are confounded by voters’ willingness to roll the dice and reelect the intemperate Donald Trump as president.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for roll
Dictionary Entries Near roll
Cite this Entry
“Roll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roll. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roll
2 of 3 verb1
: to move or cause to move by turning over and over on a surface without sliding
2
a
: to put a wrapping around
b
: to form into a ball or roll
3
: to make smooth, even, or firm with or as if with a roller
4
a
: to move on rollers or wheels
b
: to begin or cause to begin operating or moving
roll the cameras
let's get rolling
5
: to sound with a full echoing tone or with a continuous beating sound
roll a drum
thunder rolled
6
: to have an abundant supply
rolling in money
7
a
: to move onward or around as if on a wheel or scroll
the days roll by
lines rolling off the screen of a computer
b
: to rotate on an axis
8
: to flow in a continuous stream
money was rolling in
9
: to move with a side-to-side sway : rock
roll
3 of 3 noun1
a
: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum
b
: a heavy echoing sound
the roll of thunder
2
: a rolling movement or an action involving such movement
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