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“Role” or “Roll”

Overview

role / roll are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

role: (noun) normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting.

roll: (noun) a list of names. (noun) photographic film rolled up inside a container to protect it from light. (noun) anything rolled up in cylindrical form. (noun) walking with a swaying gait. (noun) a flight maneuver; aircraft rotates about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude. (noun) the act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling). (verb) move by turning over or rotating. (verb) occur in soft rounded shapes. (verb) emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound. (verb) begin operating or running. (verb) shape by rolling. (verb) execute a roll, in tumbling. (verb) move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion. (verb) move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment. (verb) move, rock, or sway from side to side. (verb) cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis. (verb) pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/. (verb) take the shape of a roll or cylinder. (verb) show certain properties when being rolled.

Pronunciation

role: r·OW·l

roll: r·OW·l

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Examples in Context

Examples of “role”

  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Leonardo DiCaprio).
  • Best Supporting Actor for his role as "Sammy Goldenbaum".
  • later declined to play the role, saying a younger actor should
  • an exploitation of the parental role and I think it’s wrong”.
  • reprising his Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger role as Senichi Enari/Deka Green, and
  • In spite of her role, she has a ditzy personality,
  • stepped back into an administrative role as director of player personnel
  • reprises his role as the voice of Space
  • "humility and tenderness" to the role.
  • Oran, he sang the title role of Faust.

Examples of “roll”

  • found his roast beef sandwich roll to be too hard.
  • hit "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me".
  • pop, R&B, rock, rock 'n roll and contemporary releases featuring both
  • Chicago blues, early rock and roll, rockabilly, and 1960s blues rock.
  • records were "essentially rock ‘n’ roll songs before the concept of
  • hamburger bun is a bread roll sliced horizontally containing a hamburger,
  • Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll
  • the Long Island Rock & Roll Band known as The Ravens,
  • Oasis is not discussed and "Roll with It" is not featured.
  • queer make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice."


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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