rolls 1 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of roll
1
as in rounds
to form into a round compact mass rolled up the wrapper from the straw and threw it

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rumbles
to make a low heavy rolling sound thunder rolling in the distance

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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

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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

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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

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7
as in glides
to move or proceed smoothly and readily once we started rolling, everything went perfectly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rolls

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of roll
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

rolls

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of roll
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rolls
Verb
The transporter-erector, meanwhile, rolls the rocket to the pad before lifting it vertically into position ahead of launch. — Chris Young july 12, New Atlas, 13 July 2026 The menu is built for sharing, with dishes like samosa chaat, okra fries and kati rolls that balance spice, crunch and bright flavor. — Evan Moore july 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026 Edgar insists on a moment alone with his dead son before the coffin rolls into the crematorium furnace. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 July 12 is sourdough breads and muffins from Plum Tree Bakery; July 19 is organic sourdough breads and rolls from Mathildes Pantry; and July 26 is oatmeal cream pies from Mile High Cream Pies. — Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 Then Kessler rolls to the rim, catches the pocket pass below his waist and gets fouled. — Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 July 2026 As the picture rolls along, Garcia shows a more assertive side, relishing her character’s emergence from her shell. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Suddenly, there’s a gust of wind and something rolls into the road. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 1 July 2026 Brush rolls with egg mixture and evenly sprinkle with 4 teaspoons sesame seeds. — ABC News, 29 June 2026
Noun
Those grants are then used to protect IT systems from foreign and domestic cyberattacks, update voting systems, ensure the accuracy of voter rolls and protect the integrity of ballots after they are cast. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Expect truffle pizza, lobster rolls, seafood towers, bottle specials, and French Mediterranean favorites alongside the skyline views. — Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Some of those removed from the rolls likely are unemployable because of mental illness or other medical conditions, but others could preserve their benefits by securing work or participating in job training. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026 The war also disrupted officials’ ability to maintain Gaza’s population registry, which would complicate efforts to compile voter rolls. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 July 2026 The letter threatens the criminal prosecution of any state election official who knowingly leaves noncitizens on their voter rolls or allows even a single non-citizen to receive or cast a ballot counted in a federal election. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 10 July 2026 Georgia’s secretary of state’s office says the state has already taken many of the actions required in the FEMA grant, including a citizenship audit of voter rolls. — Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 To keep things simple, make a tray of these fan-favorites with ham and cheese layered between Hawaiian rolls that everyone will love. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolls
  1. rounds
  2. rumbles
  3. rocks
  4. turns
  5. flows
  6. rotates
  7. glides
  8. lists
Verb
  • Canada, a little unlucky to lose so heavily, has made history this summer after making the knockout rounds for the first time and will have undoubtedly spread joy and inspired a new generation in the country.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Throughout the tournament’s history, hosts have hugely overperformed at the World Cup, reaching knockout rounds 91% of the time, semifinals 57%, and the championship 26%.
    — Michael Morris, Time, 1 July 2026
Definition of rounds
Verb
  • The engine rumbles between your legs, the road streams beneath you, the curves beckon you onward.
    — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • As thunder rumbles over Mpophomeni, and the first drops of rain fall, children at the training field pull on hoodies and start to walk home, their dogs trotting faithfully alongside them.
    — Patricia Huon, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026
Definition of rumbles
Verb
  • Mindy Kaling rocks a butter yellow outfit outside Good Morning America on July 9 in New York City.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • Here, Jordyn Woods rocks her goddess braids in a ponytail with the top two front braids left loose for a soft, tendril-y look.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 9 July 2026
Definition of rocks
Verb
  • Using the Corsairs to strike a fortified naval port directly without risking human operators turns that tactic on its head.
    — David Szondy July 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
  • The additional wattage turns the usual 2-D projection into a 3-D production.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
Definition of turns
Verb
  • Air flows clockwise around these domes, but until now, none of them have been in quite the right spot to drag Canadian smoke south.
    — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • The Madison River originates inside Yellowstone National Park and flows 183 miles north through southwest Montana, flanked by the Madison Range, the Gravelly Mountains, and the Tobacco Root Mountains.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Definition of flows
Verb
  • The band rotates through instruments, including alpenhorns, cow bells, and a xylophone, and invites guests onto the floor to polka.
    — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
  • The author rotates in and out of the lives of her cast, teasing out perspectives, manifesting the notion that friendships are what hold us together, year in, year out.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of rotates
Verb
  • In any case, the scheme shaping the film’s stakes is introduced from the get-go, in a sultry opening credits scene where the camera glides over curly telephone cords and grasping hands in close-up.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 July 2026
  • As the Coast Starlight approaches the Bay Area, the train glides past marshlands, open water, and distant city skylines before continuing toward California’s Central Coast.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of glides
Noun
  • Nigerian-British filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah’s name and work rarely factor into lists and reappraisals of the best films of the 1990s.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The timeline listed in the request for proposal lists the closing around November to December 2026, but says the dates are subject to change.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
Definition of lists

Browse Nearby Words

roll out
rolls
rolls back
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Cite this Entry

“Rolls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rolls. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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