roll
verb/rəʊl/
/rəʊl/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they roll | /rəʊl/ /rəʊl/ |
| he / she / it rolls | /rəʊlz/ /rəʊlz/ |
| past simple rolled | /rəʊld/ /rəʊld/ |
| past participle rolled | /rəʊld/ /rəʊld/ |
| -ing form rolling | /ˈrəʊlɪŋ/ /ˈrəʊlɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to turn over and over and move in a particular direction; to make a round object do this
- + adv./prep. The ball rolled down the hill.
- Tears rolled down her cheeks.
- We watched the waves rolling onto the beach.
- The marble rolled behind the sofa.
- roll something + adv./prep. Delivery men were rolling barrels across the yard.
- He rolled the boulder aside.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- slowly
- quickly
- gently
- …
- down
- off
- [intransitive, transitive] to turn over and over or round and round while remaining in the same place; to make something do this
- Her eyes rolled.
- + adv./prep. a dog rolling in the mud
- roll something She rolled her eyes (= to show surprise or disapproval).
- roll something + adv./prep. He was rolling a pencil between his fingers.
- [intransitive, transitive] to turn over to face a different direction; to make somebody/something do this
- roll over She rolled over to let the sun brown her back.
- He quickly rolled over and got to his feet.
- roll over onto something I rolled over onto my stomach.
- roll onto something He rolled onto his back.
- roll somebody/something over The paramedics rolled him over to make it easier for him to breathe.
- roll somebody/something over onto something I rolled the baby over onto its stomach.
- roll somebody/something onto something She rolled the patient onto his side.
- roll something (especially North American English) She rolled her car in a 100 mph crash.
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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- slowly
- quickly
- gently
- …
- down
- off
- [transitive] roll something to throw dice in a game
- Each player rolls their dice.
- (especially North American English) Players take turns rolling a die and moving around the board.
- Roll a six to start.
- [intransitive, transitive] to move smoothly on wheels or as if on wheels; to make something do this
- + adv./prep. The car began to roll back down the hill.
- The traffic rolled slowly forwards.
- Tanks rolled triumphantly into the city.
- roll something + adv./prep. He rolled the trolley across the room.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- slowly
- quickly
- gently
- …
- down
- off
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move or flow forward in a steady way
- Mist was rolling in from the sea.
- In the afternoon, dark clouds rolled in.
- The fog was rolling off the moors.
- the sound of waves rolling in to the shore
- [transitive, intransitive] to make something/yourself into the shape of a ball or tube
- roll something into something I rolled the string into a ball.
- Roll the mixture into small balls and place them on a baking tray.
- roll something up We rolled up the carpet.
- a rolled-up newspaper
- The hedgehog rolled (up) into a ball.
- Armadillos roll into a ball to protect themselves from harm.
Extra Examples- He rolled the paper into a tight ball.
- She carried the magazine tightly rolled up in her hand.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- tightly
- up
- into
- [transitive] roll something to make a cigarette yourself by putting tobacco on special paper and forming it into a tube
- He leaned on the table and rolled a cigarette.
- I always roll my own (= make my own cigarettes).
- [transitive] to fold the edge of a piece of clothing, etc. over and over on itself to make it shorter
- roll something up Roll up your sleeves.
- roll something down Alice rolled down her sock to reveal a scar on her ankle.
- roll something + adv./prep. She rolled her jeans to her knees.
- [transitive] roll something (out) to make something flat by pushing something heavy over it
- Roll the pastry on a floured surface.
- [transitive] to wrap or cover somebody/something/yourself in something
- roll somebody/something/yourself in something Roll the meat in the breadcrumbs.
- roll somebody/something/yourself up in something He rolled himself up in the blanket.
- [intransitive, transitive] roll (something) (+ adv./prep.) to move or make something move from side to side
- He walked with a rolling gait.
- The ship was rolling heavily to and fro.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- heavily
- slightly
- [intransitive, transitive] to make a long continuous sound
- rolling drums
- Thunder rolled.
- roll something to roll your r’s (= by letting your tongue vibrate with each ‘r’ sound)
Extra ExamplesTopics Languagec2- From the walls a trumpet sounded, a drum rolled and the gate swung open.
- You have to roll your r's when speaking Spanish.
- The sky had darkened and thunder rolled in the west.
- [intransitive, transitive] when a machine rolls or somebody rolls it, it operates
- They had to repeat the scene because the cameras weren't rolling.
- roll something Roll the cameras!
- [intransitive] (informal) to behave in a particular way
- She surprised her fans with a completely new look because that's how she rolls.
turn over
move (as if) on wheels
of clouds/waves
make ball/tube
fold clothing
make something flat
wrap up
of ship/plane/walk
make sound
machine
behave
Idioms
See roll in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee roll in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe rolling in money/it
- (informal) to have a lot of money
get/set/start/keep the ball rolling
- to make something start happening; to make sure that something continues to happen
heads will roll (for something)
- (informal, usually humorous) used to say that some people will be punished because of something that has happened
let’s roll
- (informal, especially North American English) used to suggest to a group of people that you should all start doing something or going somewhere
ready to roll
- (informal) ready to start
- The show is just about ready to roll.
rolled into one
- combined in one person or thing
- Banks are several businesses rolled into one.
rolling in the aisles
- (informal) laughing a lot
- She soon had us rolling in the aisles.
roll (over) in his/her grave (North American English)
(British English turn in his/her grave)
- (of a person who is dead) likely to be very shocked or angry
- My father would roll over his grave if he knew.
a rolling stone gathers no moss
- (saying) a person who moves from place to place, job to job, etc. does not have a lot of money, possessions or friends but is free from responsibilities
roll/slip/trip off the tongue
- to be easy to say or pronounce
- It's not a name that exactly rolls off the tongue, is it?
roll on…!
- (British English, informal) used to say that you want something to happen or arrive soon
- Roll on Friday!
roll up your sleeves
- to prepare to work or fight
roll with the punches
- to adapt yourself to a difficult situation
Check pronunciation:
roll