variants
or less commonly rôle
1
a(1)
: a character assigned or assumed
had to take on the role of both father and mother
(2)
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
b
: a part played by an actor or singer
2
: a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process
played a major role in the negotiations
Examples of role in a Sentence
He plays the role of the villain.
She was given the starring role.
I had a minor role in the play.
After her husband left her, she had to take on the dual role of mother and father for her children.
She likes to play the role of matchmaker with her friends.
She challenged the traditional roles assigned to women.
We'll switch roles this time, and you can wash the dishes while I dry them.
It was a case of role reversal: the father stayed home with the children while the mother worked.
Recent Examples on the Web
Diesel has been synonymous with Fast and Furious, given his role as Dominic Toretto in the series that began as a street racing movie in 2001.
—
Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Diesel revealed that his return to the eleventh installment of the blockbuster series came with a few non-negotiable conditions—one of which was directly tied to Paul Walker’s iconic role.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025
Labs should begin to integrate AI into their operational processes, starting with automating repetitive tasks and gradually expanding AI's role to more complex lab functions and expectations.
—Michael Connell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
In reality, Reese has taken a major step forward in her development this season while adapting to a new role as a playmaking forward who spends a significant amount of time with the ball in her hands.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Diesel revealed that his return to the eleventh installment of the blockbuster series came with a few non-negotiable conditions—one of which was directly tied to Paul Walker’s iconic role.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025
Labs should begin to integrate AI into their operational processes, starting with automating repetitive tasks and gradually expanding AI's role to more complex lab functions and expectations.
—Michael Connell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
In reality, Reese has taken a major step forward in her development this season while adapting to a new role as a playmaking forward who spends a significant amount of time with the ball in her hands.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
Cite this Entry
“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
1
a
: a character assigned or taken on
b
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
c
: a part played by an actor or singer
a starring role
2
: function entry 1 sense 2a
the role of enzymes in digestion
Etymology
from French rôle "part played by an actor," literally "scroll"; so called because before the use of books, the actor's parts were written on scrolls
Medical Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
: a socially prescribed pattern of behavior usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
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