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
Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Any trigger that rolls through (cold front, outflow boundaries, remnants from yesterday's storms) will be enough to trigger storm development.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Take the time now to clean, oil and sharpen tools to make every task faster once summer maintenance rolls through.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
Take the time now to clean, oil and sharpen tools to make every task faster once summer maintenance rolls through.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
The finished structure had a contact angle of 153°, meaning water simply rolls off.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 2026
Like its opponent, Denver rolls with an intrepid freshman goalie.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
As the festival rolls into the weekend, check out these vintage photos from years past.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
So, install this tarp above your tent and at an angle, so the rain rolls right off it.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Steven Melendez, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia after officials in those places refused to hand over their voter rolls, which contain names, birth dates, drivers' license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The suspects were arrested on March 10 after authorities found them in possession of 1,948 garden ants stored in specialized tubes, along with an additional 300 ants in tissue rolls.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The Parker House rolls are a must, as is the corn agnolotti made with blue crab, saffron, and brown butter.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Assorted hand rolls, or sushi wrapped in large seaweed cones.
—Jenna Thompson
april 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
To mark the event, the market is celebrating with samples, food demonstrations — and its bakery’s new signature cinnamon rolls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The final goal for the research team is to mass-produce rolls of this special coated fabric that people could buy at a local hardware store.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 14 Apr. 2026
The streamlined menu will feature premium seafood like toro, Faroe Island salmon, yellowtail, scallops and lobster, alongside vegetarian rolls and snacks such as edamame with togarashi, blistered shishito peppers with furikake ranch and ube tempura.
—Evan Moore
april 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
The failure of either stock to catch a tail wind from positive reports could be a bellwether for the wider chip industry as earnings season rolls on.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Any trigger that rolls through (cold front, outflow boundaries, remnants from yesterday's storms) will be enough to trigger storm development.
—Ron Smiley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Take the time now to clean, oil and sharpen tools to make every task faster once summer maintenance rolls through.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
Take the time now to clean, oil and sharpen tools to make every task faster once summer maintenance rolls through.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
The finished structure had a contact angle of 153°, meaning water simply rolls off.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 2026
Like its opponent, Denver rolls with an intrepid freshman goalie.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
As the festival rolls into the weekend, check out these vintage photos from years past.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
So, install this tarp above your tent and at an angle, so the rain rolls right off it.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
Congress changed the law the next year to require royalties for rolls and records.
—Steven Melendez, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia after officials in those places refused to hand over their voter rolls, which contain names, birth dates, drivers' license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The suspects were arrested on March 10 after authorities found them in possession of 1,948 garden ants stored in specialized tubes, along with an additional 300 ants in tissue rolls.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The Parker House rolls are a must, as is the corn agnolotti made with blue crab, saffron, and brown butter.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Assorted hand rolls, or sushi wrapped in large seaweed cones.
—Jenna Thompson
april 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026
To mark the event, the market is celebrating with samples, food demonstrations — and its bakery’s new signature cinnamon rolls.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The final goal for the research team is to mass-produce rolls of this special coated fabric that people could buy at a local hardware store.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 14 Apr. 2026
The streamlined menu will feature premium seafood like toro, Faroe Island salmon, yellowtail, scallops and lobster, alongside vegetarian rolls and snacks such as edamame with togarashi, blistered shishito peppers with furikake ranch and ube tempura.
—Evan Moore
april 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolls
Verb
-
Waits rounds out the cast as an alien named Eyera.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Golshifteh Farahani rounds out the cast for the project that has a script from David Weil.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The whole mountain rumbles when an avalanche rolls off it.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Billy Bob Thornton rocks a graphic tee at the Landman season 2 FYC event in Los Angeles on April 16.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Configured for 16 passengers – with room for up to 20 – the cabin rocks thick carpeting, proper seats with ample legroom, a coffee bar, Wi-Fi, USB-C charging at every position, and ambient ceiling lighting for evening crossings.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 09,
New Atlas,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Aeration can be done with a core aerator that punches shallow holes in the surface, or with a shovel or a rototiller that turns the soil more deeply.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The three eventually work out their differences but not before Edgar turns Miles’s proto-smart-home devices against him, cancels his credit cards, and forges a criminal record for him.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carbios reported a financial loss of about $12 million, reflecting lower income from cash investments, interest flows with subsidiaries, interest paid on loans and a non-cash impairment provision.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The cost spiked due to a slowdown in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for oil shipments through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally flows.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The tip rotates 360 degrees for a more thorough clean.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Now, Proll rotates through her three dogs, taking them each to therapy events at UConn and to K12 schools as well.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 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 25 Apr. 2026.
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