1
2
3
as in rocks
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the car suddenly was rolling as high winds swept across the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in turns
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
in order to knock your opponent off balance, you have to roll the log when he least expects it
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in flows
to move in a stream
just lying on the beach, watching the clouds roll by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rotates
to move in circles around an axis or center
rolled her head around her shoulders to loosen herself up
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in glides
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
once we started rolling, everything went perfectly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lists
a record of a series of items (as names or titles) usually arranged according to some system
called the roll of people supposed to be in the class
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in rotations
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
the squirrel did a quick roll and vanished up a tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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Recent Examples of rolls
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Distiller Donald MacLeod rolls a barrel of whisky in the warehouse of Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert, on the Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland, on April 30, 2025.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Splitting rolls on the top and adding that meat mixture that way will help more of the barbecue be enjoyed with the roll instead of falling out onto the plate.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
There are whole rotisserie chickens, four different pastas, bone broth, pizza, and all the salads, bowls, and rolls flooding social media feeds.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Pull them tight so water rolls off, and check after every rain.
—Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The equipment, which rolls double‑ended joints and cuts them into individual one‑gram products, produces thousands of joints a day.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Make sure tarps are pulled tight so rain rolls off, instead of pooling on the surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Joshua rolls past North Side Isabella Lambert threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 batters to lead Joshua past Fort Worth North Side 14-0 in 5 innings in their Class 5A Division II bi-district single-game series playoff on Thursday night at Joshua High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
Jamiel Robinson, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The bakery will offer cakes, cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls and Gunther’s ice cream.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The Gucci of pre-rolls is stupid.
—Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Ahead, discover our best recipes that start with sweet Hawaiian rolls.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes there are pantheras, moreish pan rolls made of crêpes stuffed with spicy mutton mince.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
Families flock to the Cape for mini-golfing, traipsing around sand dunes, comparing ice cream stands, gobbling up lobster rolls, spotting whales, and simply admiring the gray cedar shake houses adorned with colorful buoys.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Proving nonprimary residence should be straightforward, based on tax rolls.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Since the topic of voting has come up in the letters section, it must be mentioned that the current administration has convinced 10 states so far to release voter rolls of names with personal data.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Both surfaces are superhydrophobic, meaning water forms droplets and rolls off instead of spreading.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Distiller Donald MacLeod rolls a barrel of whisky in the warehouse of Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert, on the Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland, on April 30, 2025.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Splitting rolls on the top and adding that meat mixture that way will help more of the barbecue be enjoyed with the roll instead of falling out onto the plate.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
There are whole rotisserie chickens, four different pastas, bone broth, pizza, and all the salads, bowls, and rolls flooding social media feeds.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Pull them tight so water rolls off, and check after every rain.
—Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The equipment, which rolls double‑ended joints and cuts them into individual one‑gram products, produces thousands of joints a day.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Make sure tarps are pulled tight so rain rolls off, instead of pooling on the surface.
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Joshua rolls past North Side Isabella Lambert threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 batters to lead Joshua past Fort Worth North Side 14-0 in 5 innings in their Class 5A Division II bi-district single-game series playoff on Thursday night at Joshua High School.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
His wife, Janae, steps in with the apple fritters and cinnamon rolls.
—Jamiel Robinson, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The bakery will offer cakes, cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls and Gunther’s ice cream.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The Gucci of pre-rolls is stupid.
—Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Ahead, discover our best recipes that start with sweet Hawaiian rolls.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes there are pantheras, moreish pan rolls made of crêpes stuffed with spicy mutton mince.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
Families flock to the Cape for mini-golfing, traipsing around sand dunes, comparing ice cream stands, gobbling up lobster rolls, spotting whales, and simply admiring the gray cedar shake houses adorned with colorful buoys.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Proving nonprimary residence should be straightforward, based on tax rolls.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Since the topic of voting has come up in the letters section, it must be mentioned that the current administration has convinced 10 states so far to release voter rolls of names with personal data.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolls
Verb
-
The piquant dish is lacquered with strawberry-guajillo barbecue sauce, while a punchy coleslaw with Fresno chile vinaigrette rounds things out.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
Bespoke footwear rounds out the collection, with the Megaride F50 shoe featuring spiderweb panels over a black mesh base.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Inside the nearly empty Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA last Monday afternoon, the air rumbles and judders and roars like a B-52 engine readying for takeoff.—
Erik Pedersen,
Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The first one arrives after 10 this evening and will bring rain, and some storm rumbles to our area.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Woody Harrelson rocks a newsboy cap at the premiere of Animal Farm in New York City on April 21.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With the highest peaks running in a chain along the east side of the island, Sardinia resolutely turns its back to the mainland.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
The retailer’s latest edit turns the spotlight on Leset, the beloved label known for its effortlessly cool wardrobe staples.—
Irina Grechko,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Newcastle is part of Tyneside, an area around the banks of the River Tyne that has been shaped by industry, a context that flows through A Great Day in Newcastle.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
-
Observing tips The lunar disk is entirely bereft of shadows during the full moon phase, making this the perfect time to trace the outline of lunar maria — where lava flows filled colossal impact basins billions of years ago before hardening to form sweeping basaltic plains.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The waist rotates ±150°, while the head supports ±115° yaw and ±36° pitch.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
Other players, such as defender Nolan Miller and backup goalkeeper Javier Otero, could also make the starting eleven as Perelman rotates the roster to keep his squad healthy on a quick turnaround.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brazzell is a 6-foot-4, 198-pound target who glides by his opposing corners with ease.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As the late '70s disco hit Stayin' Alive fills the Addison dance studio, instructor Maya Apodaca glides across the floor.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Arrange dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rolls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rolls. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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