unroll

verb

un·​roll ˌən-ˈrōl 

unrolled; unrolling; unrolls

transitive verb

1

: to unwind a roll of : open out : uncoil

2

: to spread out like a scroll for reading or inspection : unfold, reveal

intransitive verb

: to be unrolled : unwind

Examples of unroll in a Sentence

He carefully unrolled the ancient scroll.

I unrolled the new carpet.

When we arrived at the cabin, we unrolled our sleeping bags.

The hose will unroll if you pull on it.

Last week, the government unrolled a new vaccination campaign.

The scandal unrolled over the course of several weeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

As whites marched onto new lands, the grid unrolled before them like a red carpet. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

The study’s findings could help identify which Herculaneum scrolls are the next best candidates to noninvasively unroll and decipher, the authors suggest. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Auriga effectively unrolled that circular motor, creating a linear system capable of accelerating an object along a track. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Fully unrolled, the canvas was the size of the cargo container, looking like a dust storm descending over a desert town. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for unroll

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

unroll

verb

un·​roll ˌən-ˈrōl 

ˈən-

1

: to unwind a roll of : open out

unroll a carpet

2

: disclose

the government unrolled a new program

3

: to become unrolled or spread out : unfold

a view of mountains unrolled before them