Illustration of scroll
- scroll 1a
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a
: something resembling a scroll in shape
especially
: a spiral or convoluted form in ornamental design derived from the curves of a loosely or partly rolled parchment scroll
b
: the curved head of a bowed stringed musical instrument see violin illustration
scrolled; scrolling; scrolls
1
: to move text or graphics up or down or across a display screen as if by unrolling a scroll
2
: to progress, move, or be revealed as if by the unrolling of a scroll
watch scenery scroll by large picture windows—
David Yeadon
David Yeadon
: to cause (text or graphics on a display screen) to move in scrolling
Example Sentences
Noun
He read from the scroll.
a scarf with lovely green scrolls on it
Verb
You have to scroll the screen to see the bottom of the Web page.
Recent Examples on the WebChloe Schama, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2023
In the centuries prior to its writing there were only portions or sections of biblical texts in scroll form -- which came to be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 15 Feb. 2023
Under the games is an infinite scroll feed designed to keep users browsing and buying.
—Emily Mason, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
And then Kerouac’s typewriter scroll, and a bunch of other stuff.
—Bart Bull, SPIN, 10 Feb. 2023
The 37-year-old English actor came out publicly back in 2020, self-identifying as gay through a simplistic, scroll-and-you’d-miss it, four-sentence post.
—Sean Abrams, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023
He's made a single-location potboiler that echoes the rapid proliferation of crackpot conspiracy theories and the powerful urge to doom scroll.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 1 Feb. 2023
Names of Jungfernhof prisoners scroll throughout the video.
—Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2023
Google has been adding more visual features—and an infinite scroll effect—to search, an obvious ploy to pull in more users from Generation TikTok.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 26 Jan. 2023
Maria Sherman, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2023
Tap or click here and scroll to No. 5 for steps on creating new email addresses on the fly.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022
To manage your notifications, go to the Watch app and scroll to each individual app.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2022
The feature instantly started playing a television show or movie without making users scroll through Netflix’s library to find something to watch.
—Katie Deighton, WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023
There’s a drop-down menu for various contest categories, or just scroll or search down the whole main list.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2022
As readers scroll through the article online, the animation shifts from Ecuador to Peru to Argentina.
—Terence Mcginley, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2022
Just scroll down on the download page to find the QR.
—Mythili Devarakonda, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2022
People get invested in the game, leave the room, scroll through their phones, chat with their friends.
—Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 12 Feb. 2023
See More
Noun
One of the central, and first, installations that the visitor encounters is, in fact, a magnification of the illustration that appeared on the scroll—a glorious tidal wave of phalaenopsis that looms over the visitor.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2023
In the centuries prior to its writing there were only portions or sections of biblical texts in scroll form -- which came to be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 15 Feb. 2023
Under the games is an infinite scroll feed designed to keep users browsing and buying.
—Emily Mason, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
And then Kerouac’s typewriter scroll, and a bunch of other stuff.
—Bart Bull, SPIN, 10 Feb. 2023
The 37-year-old English actor came out publicly back in 2020, self-identifying as gay through a simplistic, scroll-and-you’d-miss it, four-sentence post.
—Sean Abrams, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023
He's made a single-location potboiler that echoes the rapid proliferation of crackpot conspiracy theories and the powerful urge to doom scroll.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 1 Feb. 2023
Names of Jungfernhof prisoners scroll throughout the video.
—Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2023
Google has been adding more visual features—and an infinite scroll effect—to search, an obvious ploy to pull in more users from Generation TikTok.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 26 Jan. 2023
Verb
Some of you will scroll through, press play on seven seconds of a new record, and form an opinion.
—Maria Sherman, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2023
Tap or click here and scroll to No. 5 for steps on creating new email addresses on the fly.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022
To manage your notifications, go to the Watch app and scroll to each individual app.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2022
The feature instantly started playing a television show or movie without making users scroll through Netflix’s library to find something to watch.
—Katie Deighton, WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023
There’s a drop-down menu for various contest categories, or just scroll or search down the whole main list.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2022
As readers scroll through the article online, the animation shifts from Ecuador to Peru to Argentina.
—Terence Mcginley, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2022
Just scroll down on the download page to find the QR.
—Mythili Devarakonda, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2022
People get invested in the game, leave the room, scroll through their phones, chat with their friends.
—Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 12 Feb. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scroll.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scrowle, blend of rolle roll and scrowe scrap, scroll (from Anglo-French escrowe, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schrode piece cut off, Old High German scrōt) — more at shred entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1973, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of scroll was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing scroll
Dictionary Entries Near scroll
Cite this Entry
“Scroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scroll. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
scroll
1 of 2 noun1
: a roll of paper or animal skin that has been prepared as a writing surface
especially
: one on which something is written or engraved
2
: an ornament resembling a loosely or partly rolled scroll
scroll
2 of 2 verb
: to move (as text or graphics) up or down or across a display screen as if by unrolling a scroll
More from Merriam-Webster on scroll
Nglish: Translation of scroll for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of scroll for Arabic Speakers
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