roll

verb

rolled; rolling; rolls

transitive verb

1

a

: to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface

rolled the ball down the hill

b

: to cause to revolve by turning over and over on or as if on an axis

rolled the meat in breadcrumbs

He rolled his car in the accident.

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

roll the dough into balls

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

a

: to put a wrapping around : enfold, envelop

rolled her hair in a towel

rolled himself up in a blanket

b

: to wrap round on itself : shape into a ball or roll

rolled up the newspaper

also : to produce by such shaping

rolled the tortillas

3

: to press, spread, or level with a roller : make smooth, even, or compact

hulled and rolled oats

rolled paint on the walls

—often used with out

rolled 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

: bowl sense 1

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move along a surface by rotation without sliding

The ball rolled slowly to a stop.

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

a

: to move onward or around as if by completing a revolution : elapse, pass

the months roll on

b

: to shift the gaze continually

eyes rolling in terror

c

: to revolve on an axis

3

: to move about : roam, wander

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

fields rolling to the west

5

a

: to travel in a vehicle

rolling north on the highway

b

: to become carried on a stream

debris rolling down the flooded street

c

: to move on wheels

trucks rolling down the highway

6

a

: to make a deep reverberating sound

the thunder rolls

b

: trill

—used of a songbird

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

The pad rolls for storage.

b

: to respond to rolling in a specified way

The dough rolls easily.

9

a

: to get underway : begin to move or operate

The presses started to roll.

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 is rolling this season.

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

see also:

roll around roll the bones roll the dice roll with the punches

Synonyms of roll

• round
• ball

Examples of roll in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

From the observation deck, visitors can spot the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island and a patchwork of neighborhoods draped across rolling hills. —Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026

As classic cars prepare to roll onto the Mother Road and communities across eight states launch centennial celebrations, organizers hope the milestone serves not only as a tribute to history but as a call to preserve what comes next. —Daily News, 9 June 2026

However, the voter rolls need to be audited, Essayli told host Chris Cuomo. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

That extended wheelbase allowed Rivian to stretch the second-row legroom versus the R1 while also affording enough space within the passenger doors to fully roll the window glass down. —ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French rouler, roller, from roele wheel, rowel & roule roll

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing roll

• anti-roll
• anti-roll bar
• a roll in the hay
• a roll of the dice
• barrel roll
• body roll
• B-roll
• California roll
• coffee roll
• Dutch roll
• egg roll
• eye-roll
• hand roll
• heads are going to roll
• heads roll
• heads will roll
• honor roll
• jelly roll
• kaiser roll
• kitchen roll
• leaf roll
• let's roll
• muster roll
• on a roll
• pick-and-roll
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• ready to roll
• rock and roll
• roll about
• roll around
• roll back
• roll bar
• roll cage
• roll call
• roll down
• roll film
• roll in
• roll-neck
• roll-off
• roll of honour
• roll-on
• roll one's r's
• roll out
• roll out of bed
• roll out the red carpet
• roll over
• roll-over arm
• roll the bones
• roll the dice
• roll/trip off the tongue
• roll up
• roll up one's sleeves
• roll with the punches
• snap roll
• spring roll
• sushi roll
• Swiss roll
• toilet roll

Rhymes for roll

• bole
• bowl
• coal
• droll
• foal
• goal
• hole
• knoll
• kol
• mole
• noll
• nolle

Kids Definition

roll

1 of 3 noun

ˈrōl 

1

a

: a written document that may be rolled up : scroll

b

: an official list of names

the voter rolls

2

a

: something or a quantity of something that is rolled up or rounded as if rolled

rolls of fat

b

: a small piece of baked bread dough

c

: paper money folded or rolled

roll

2 of 3 verb

1

: 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 noun

1

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

Legal Definition

roll

noun

1

: a document containing an official record

2

: an official list

the public relief rolls

: as

a

: a list of members of a legislative body

the clerk called the roll and recorded the votes

b

: a list of practitioners in a court or the courts of a state

—usually used in pl.

c

: a record kept by an authorized official of persons or property or both that are subject to taxation