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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Recent Examples of rolls
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
To him, every single robotic box that rolls off the assembly line represents a tangible step toward a completely staffless retail economy.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
There is a name at the top — and the list rolls on through possible alternatives.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 May 2026
In West Philly, Alif Brew is an Ethiopian coffee shop and community hub where owner Hayat Ali rolls injera wraps filled with beef tibs or spicy lentils that make an ideal lunch.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
Both sides of the material are superhydrophobic, meaning water beads up and rolls off the surface instead of spreading across it.
—New Atlas, 25 May 2026
Another thing that makes King’s Hawaiian rolls a vacation winner?
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
When bad weather rolls into town, most people focus on tasks like gathering bottled water and charging their phones.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 20 May 2026
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
The law, which took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday's primary, prohibits any person — including federal agents — from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
The bill, Senate Bill 73, restricts law enforcement agencies and officers — including those from federal agencies — from interfering with state and local election officials, such as confiscating ballots, voter rolls or voting machines without a warrant.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Cofield stole those millions of dollars with the help of contraband cellphones, which were continually found in his prison cells over the years, including one hidden in the rolls of his stomach.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 27 May 2026
On the menu, guests would have a choice of everything from buttery lobster rolls and lobster bisque, to Baja-style favorites like tacos, burritos and fish and chips, the proposal said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
The King’s Hawaiian rolls at Publix may not have been formally blessed, but come summertime, there’s just no denying that there's something sacred about their delicious simplicity.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
French Open Day 2 The 2026 French Open rolls along in Paris.
—Michael Dominski, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Go to Dock Square to browse shops and art galleries, and then stop at another local favorite, The Clam Shack, for luscious lobster rolls.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Verb
Statewide distribution rolls through WOW Spirits, with Texas leading and Florida, California, and Arizona next, prioritized by RTD market opportunity.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
To him, every single robotic box that rolls off the assembly line represents a tangible step toward a completely staffless retail economy.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
There is a name at the top — and the list rolls on through possible alternatives.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 May 2026
In West Philly, Alif Brew is an Ethiopian coffee shop and community hub where owner Hayat Ali rolls injera wraps filled with beef tibs or spicy lentils that make an ideal lunch.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
Both sides of the material are superhydrophobic, meaning water beads up and rolls off the surface instead of spreading across it.
—New Atlas, 25 May 2026
Another thing that makes King’s Hawaiian rolls a vacation winner?
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
When bad weather rolls into town, most people focus on tasks like gathering bottled water and charging their phones.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 20 May 2026
Noun
Some manufacturers have created toilet paper and toilet paper rolls pretreated with scents like lavender or vanilla that are released every time the paper is turned and torn.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
The law, which took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday's primary, prohibits any person — including federal agents — from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
The bill, Senate Bill 73, restricts law enforcement agencies and officers — including those from federal agencies — from interfering with state and local election officials, such as confiscating ballots, voter rolls or voting machines without a warrant.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Cofield stole those millions of dollars with the help of contraband cellphones, which were continually found in his prison cells over the years, including one hidden in the rolls of his stomach.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 27 May 2026
On the menu, guests would have a choice of everything from buttery lobster rolls and lobster bisque, to Baja-style favorites like tacos, burritos and fish and chips, the proposal said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
The King’s Hawaiian rolls at Publix may not have been formally blessed, but come summertime, there’s just no denying that there's something sacred about their delicious simplicity.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
French Open Day 2 The 2026 French Open rolls along in Paris.
—Michael Dominski, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Go to Dock Square to browse shops and art galleries, and then stop at another local favorite, The Clam Shack, for luscious lobster rolls.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolls
Verb
-
Samsung, the world’s largest memory-chip maker and another trillion-dollar company, rounds out the three dominant companies in the memory-chip market.—
Mark Dee
May 27,
Idaho Statesman,
27 May 2026
-
Funding rounds across the AI stack, from foundation models and inference infrastructure to agentic software and autonomous systems, have become intensely oversubscribed.—
TrueBridge Capital,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The volcano rumbles at predictable intervals, a low groan like a thunderstorm a few valleys over.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
And finally… ▶️ Explosion rocks fireworks factory Video captured the dramatic moment a fireworks factory erupted in Malta on Monday.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Kristin Cavallari rocks the runway for Shop Resa x Uncommon James during Miami Swim Week on May 28.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
If industrial demand keeps softening and the Fed turns hawkish, $70 is on the table.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Williams, who turns 46 next month, was a singles wild-card entry at the Australian Open.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
But perhaps most controversial is how the update will affect the program’s multibillion-dollar revenue, which flows into the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund each year and is distributed to various programs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The streets are worse, the parks are underfunded, code enforcement is slower, and city investment consistently flows to other parts of town.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Contrary to their sides of years past, this iteration of PSG are physically outstanding — and Luis Enrique rotates his players in the less-demanding and smaller (18 teams to the Premier League’s 20) Ligue 1 to ensure that.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Wang was elected to the City Council in November 2022 and eventually assumed the job of mayor, a position that rotates among the council members.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In the warmer months, don’t skip a ride on The Morgan, Sagamore’s cruising vessel that glides around Lake George.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
With a blend of peptides, olive oil, and vitamin E, this pencil glides on without any dragging or pilling.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Each year, the site’s experts release their official lists of the best beaches in the world—one of which focuses solely on the top 50 beaches in North America.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
-
Chefs and pastry pros tend to look at grocery-store pints a little differently, judging everything from texture and butterfat content to ingredient lists.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rolls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rolls. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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