- an actor’s part in a play, film, etc.
- She has landed the lead role (= the most important one) in a new play.
- a leading/starring role
- the role of somebody He played the role of Sonny in ‘The Godfather’.
Homophones role | rollrole roll/rəʊl//rəʊl/- role noun
- She's playing the role of Elizabeth Bennet.
- roll noun
- The soup is served with a freshly baked roll.
- roll verb
- Everyone must roll the dice, and the player with the highest number starts.
Collocations Cinema/the moviesCinema/the moviesWatching- go to/take somebody to (see) a film
- go to/sit in (British English) the cinema/(North American English) the (movie) theater
- rent a film/DVD
- download/stream a film
- burn/copy/rip a DVD
- see/watch a film/DVD/preview/trailer
- show/screen a film
- promote/distribute/review a film
- (British English) be on at the cinema
- be released on/come out on/be out on DVD
- captivate/delight/grip/thrill the audience
- do well/badly at the box office
- get a lot of/live up to the hype
- write/co-write a film/script/screenplay
- direct/produce/make/shoot/edit a film/sequel
- make a romantic comedy/a thriller/an action movie
- do/work on a sequel/remake
- film/shoot the opening scene/an action sequence/footage (of something)
- compose/create/do/write the soundtrack
- cut/edit (out) a scene/sequence
- have/get/do an audition
- get/have/play a leading/starring/supporting role
- play a character/James Bond/the bad guy
- act in/appear in/star in a film/remake
- do/perform/attempt a stunt
- work in/make it big in Hollywood
- forge/carve/make/pursue a career in Hollywood
- the camera pulls back/pans over something/zooms in (on something)
- the camera focuses on something/lingers on something
- shoot somebody/show somebody in extreme close-up
- use odd/unusual camera angles
- be filmed/shot on location/in a studio
- be set/take place in London/in the ’60s
- have a happy ending/plot twist
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatrea2- Ethan Hawke does a solid job in a thankless role.
- He has the starring role in the movie.
- He was very good in the role.
- In the series, Smith assumes the role of the go-between.
- It took her three years to land her first film role.
- Lee began to get big roles in movies.
- Most of the original cast are reprising their roles.
- She interprets the role as more tragic than I expected.
- She sings the title role in Tosca.
- The supporting roles are filled by British actors.
- This is the plum role in the play.
- Walken carefully underplays the role.
- a starring female role
- one of his stereotypical action hero roles
- the chance to sink her teeth into the meaty role of femme fatale Margaret
- Playing the role of Hamlet is an immense challenge for the actor.
- It is one of the greatest roles she has played.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- lead
- leading
- starring
- …
- assume
- perform
- play
- …
- in the role (of)
- the function or position that somebody has or is expected to have in an organization, in society or in a relationship
- the changing role of women
- role in something the artist's role in society
- role as somebody He is stepping down from his role as chair.
- I welcome the opportunity to assume a leadership role within the organization.
- In many marriages there has been a complete role reversal (= change of roles) with the man staying at home and the woman going out to work.
- It is important that everyone has clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Extra Examples- Every member of staff must have a clear role.
- He assumed a conspicuous role at the new arts agency.
- He filled several governmental roles.
- He has been cast in the role of chief apologist for the government.
- He is looking for ways to strengthen his role in the business.
- He is trying to carve out a new role for himself.
- He may have to settle for a backup role.
- He really wants to fulfil his role as godfather properly.
- I accepted the executive editor role at the magazine.
- I feel I can fit any role this team needs me to.
- I've had to take on the role of mother in her absence.
- Many staff perform multiple roles.
- She embraced her role as ruler of the country.
- She has a dual role as principal and French teacher.
- She has joined the team in a consultative role.
- Supervising elections is a possible role for the UN.
- The caregiving role is still overwhelmingly a female one.
- The fighting has prevented the UN troops from fulfilling their role as peacekeepers.
- The new prime minister promised a greater role for women in government.
- Their brother plays a protective role.
- They have to be willing to accept their roles as caregivers and not managers.
- Traditional gender roles are reversed in their household.
- We are waiting to see if he can handle an expanded role.
- We need to find a useful role for the volunteers in the campaign.
- We will meet with them to determine individual roles.
- the views prevalent in society about female roles
- She refused to take on the traditional woman's role.
- the role of the teacher in the classroom
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- huge
- large
- …
- have
- occupy
- perform
- …
- model
- reversal
- expectation
- …
- in a/the role
- role as
- role at
- …
- the degree to which somebody/something is involved in a situation or an activity and the effect that they have on it
- A cup of tea often serves an important social role.
- a key/leading/central/crucial/vital role
- role in doing something The media play a major role in influencing people's opinions.
- Small businesses have a significant role to play in keeping the economy buoyant.
- role in something UK scientists have taken a lead role in the project.
- role of somebody/something in something the role of diet in the prevention of disease
- role as something The company has cemented its role as a leader in the industry.
- role of somebody/something as something Thomas downplays the role of these letters as historical evidence.
Extra Examples- Economic factors played a decisive role in the outcome of the war.
- He addressed the role of tradition in design.
- Migrant workers played a central role in the state's prosperity.
- Politicians acknowledge the key roles that young people play in the country.
- Pressure groups played a major role in bringing about the reforms.
- The authors emphasized the role of the slave trade in the economic development of the New World.
- They decided to expand the role that new technologies play at the hospital.
- We need to better understand the role of cold regions in the global climate system.
- an area where national rivalries play a powerful role
- the economic role of small towns
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- huge
- large
- …
- have
- occupy
- perform
- …
- model
- reversal
- expectation
- …
- in a/the role
- role as
- role at
- …
see also thematic role
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from obsolete French roule ‘roll’, referring originally to the roll of paper on which the actor's part was written.
Check pronunciation:
role