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role

noun

ˈrōl How to pronounce role (audio)
variants also rôle
Definition of rolenext
as in purpose
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists studying the role of sunlight in the body's production of vitamin D

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of role Tonight, Zendaya was nominated for best actress in a drama series for the role of Rue Bennett in the final season of Euphoria. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026 Hassett, however, told CNBC that the government already plays a role that should not be enlarged. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 As always, new goalies will emerge to take on bigger roles and responsibilities than expected. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Smart has also won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2008 for her role as Regina Newly in Samantha Who? — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for role
Recent Examples of Synonyms for role
  1. purpose
  2. task
  3. job
  4. function
  5. part
Noun
  • But more is not a purpose, and scale is not automatically success.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The language of exploitation and cultural extraction gave the battle a purpose that seemed to extend well beyond either rapper.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of purpose
Noun
  • Reducing the information burden on pilots could also free aircraft bandwidth for otlher mission tasks.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • His point is that although LLMs, no less than chess engines and other specialist systems, are trained on a specific task—namely, predicting the next word in a text passage—that task is special.
    — George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of task
Noun
  • The lingerers brought their dirty dishes to the bus tub, wiped their mouths one last time with a napkin, and waved to Cleo, their faces saying, Nice job!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Tasked with the assignment of retrieving the escapees is Bob (Knoxville, sporting a blonde dye job), a 50-year-old counselor whose job is on the line.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of job
Noun
  • On October 4, 2016, the famously quiet, reserved fighter picked up her phone, opened her Twitter (now ‘X’ ) app and clicked on the ‘search’ function.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The overwhelming response from our community reflects the strength of pairing On’s innovative heritage with our deep understanding of women and our passion for blending function with style.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of function
Noun
  • The moratorium is part of a broader assessment of the technology and its impact on kids.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, the dress code was actually eliminated during the 2025-26 season as part of early transition dates agreed upon for the new CBA.
    — Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of part

Phrases Containing role

Browse Nearby Words

roisters
role
role model
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Cite this Entry

“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/role. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on role

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about role

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