Role vs. Roll — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Role is a part played by a person or thing in a particular situation; roll refers to turning something over or a small bread.
Difference Between Role and Roll
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Role is about the function or character someone or something assumes in a specific context. Roll, on the other hand, can refer to the physical action of turning something over and over or can describe a type of bread. While the role is abstract and situational, roll is a physical action or object.
When discussing theater or movies, the role signifies the part an actor plays. Conversely, roll could mean the motion picture as it unravels from a spool during projection. Role involves adopting behavior suitable for a character, while roll involves a physical movement.
In a social or professional setting, one's role is akin to their duties or responsibilities. Roll could be used to describe the act of confirming attendance, as in taking roll call, or a list of names. Role defines a position within a structure, while roll might refer to an act of listing or counting.
The role also pertains to the idea of an expected behavior, like a leader's role in a community. Roll has varied meanings, including the roll of dice in a game, which is a throw or turn. Role relates to societal functions, roll to a movement or list.
Role can also imply significance or influence, as in “a critical role in the project.” Roll, alternatively, can be culinary, as in a “freshly baked roll.” Role is often about influence and participation, whereas roll can be about rotation or a food item.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Part played or function.
To turn over; type of bread.
Usage
Abstract concepts.
Physical action or object.
Context
Social, professional, arts.
Movement, food, lists.
Form
Usually a noun.
Noun and verb.
Synonyms
Function, part, position.
Rotate, twist, bun.
Compare with Definitions
Role
Function
Her role in the company is vital.
Roll
Bread
She ordered a sandwich on a poppy seed roll.
Role
Position
He relished his role as a mentor.
Roll
Throw (dice)
Roll the dice to begin the game.
Role
Influence
The media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion.
Roll
Wrap
She learned how to roll a burrito.
Role
Part
She took on the role of peacemaker during the negotiations.
Roll
Move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis
The car rolled down into a ditch
She rolled the ball across the floor
Role
Character
He auditioned for the leading role in the play.
Roll
(of a vehicle) move or run on wheels
The van was rolling along the lane
Role
A role (also rôle or social role) is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by people in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behavior and may have a given individual social status or social position.
Roll
Turn (something flexible) over and over on itself to form a cylinder, tube, or ball
She started to roll up her sleeping bag
Role
Also rôle A character or part played by a performer.
Roll
Flatten (something) by passing a roller over it or by passing it between rollers
Roll out the dough on a floured surface
Role
The characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual.
Roll
(of a loud, deep sound) reverberate
The first peals of thunder rolled across the sky
Role
A function or position.
Roll
Rob (someone, typically when they are intoxicated or asleep)
If you don't get drunk, you don't get rolled
Role
(Linguistics) The function of a word or construction, as in a sentence.
Roll
A cylinder formed by winding flexible material round a tube or by turning it over and over on itself without folding
A roll of carpet
Role
A character or part played by a performer or actor.
My neighbor was the lead role in last year's village play.
Her dream was to get a role in a Hollywood movie, no matter how small.
Roll
A movement in which someone or something turns or is turned over on itself
A roll of the dice
Role
The expected behaviour of an individual in a society.
The role of women has changed significantly in the last century.
Roll
A prolonged, deep, reverberating sound
Thunder exploded, roll after roll
Role
The function or position of something.
Local volunteers played an important role in cleaning the beach after the oil spill.
What role does the wax in your earhole fulfill?
Roll
A very small loaf of bread, to be eaten by one person
Soup with a roll
A bacon roll
Role
Designation that denotes an associated set of responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and attitudes
The project manager role is responsible for ensuring that everyone on the team knows and executes his or her assigned tasks.
Roll
An official list or register of names
The school had no one by his name on its roll
Role
(grammar) The function of a word in a phrase.
Roll
Undulation of the landscape
Hidden by the roll of the land was a refinery
Role
(object-oriented) In the Raku programming language, a code element akin to an interface, used for composition of classes without adding to their inheritance chain.
Roll
A roller for flattening something, especially one used to shape metal in a rolling mill.
Role
A part, or character, performed by an actor in a drama; hence, a part of function taken or assumed by any one; as, he has now taken the rôle of philanthropist.
Roll
To move forward along a surface by revolving on an axis or by repeatedly turning over.
Role
The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group;
The function of a teacher
The government must do its part
Play its role
Roll
To travel or be moved on wheels or rollers
Rolled down the sidewalk on their scooters.
Role
An actor's portrayal of someone in a play;
She played the part of Desdemona
Roll
To travel around; wander
Roll from town to town.
Role
What something is used for;
The function of an auger is to bore holes
Ballet is beautiful but what use is it?
Roll
To travel or be carried in a vehicle.
Role
Normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting;
What is your role on the team?
Roll
To be carried on a stream
The logs rolled down the cascading river.
Roll
To start to move or operate
The press wouldn't roll.
Roll
To work or succeed in a sustained way; gain momentum
The political campaign finally began to roll.
Roll
To go by; elapse
The days rolled along.
Roll
To recur. Often used with around
Summer has rolled around again.
Roll
To move in a periodic revolution, as a planet in its orbit.
Roll
To turn over and over
The puppy rolled in the mud.
Roll
To shift the gaze usually quickly and continually
The child's eyes rolled with fright.
Roll
To turn around or revolve on an axis.
Roll
To move or advance with a rising and falling motion; undulate
The waves rolled toward shore.
Roll
To extend or appear to extend in gentle rises and falls
The dunes roll to the sea.
Roll
To move or rock from side to side
The ship pitched and rolled in heavy seas.
Roll
To walk with a swaying, unsteady motion.
Roll
(Slang) To experience periodic rushes after taking an intoxicating drug, especially MDMA.
Roll
To take the shape of a ball or cylinder
Yarn rolls easily.
Roll
To become flattened by pressure applied by a roller.
Roll
To make a deep, prolonged, surging sound
Thunder rolled in the distance.
Roll
To make a sustained trilling sound, as certain birds do.
Roll
To beat a drum in a continuous series of short blows.
Roll
To pour, flow, or move in a continual stream
Tourists rolling into the city.
Roll
To enjoy ample amounts
Rolled in the money.
Roll
To cause to move forward along a surface by revolving on an axis or by repeatedly turning over.
Roll
To move or push along on wheels or rollers
Rolled the plane out of the hangar.
Roll
To impel or send onward in a steady, swelling motion
The sea rolls its waves onto the sand.
Roll
To impart a swaying, rocking motion to
Heavy seas rolled the ship.
Roll
To turn around or partly turn around; rotate
Rolled his head toward the door.
Roll
To cause to begin moving or operating
Roll the cameras.
Roll the presses.
Roll
To extend or lay out
Rolled out a long rope.
Roll
To pronounce or utter with a trill
You must roll your r's in Spanish.
Roll
To utter or emit in full, swelling tones.
Roll
To beat (a drum) with a continuous series of short blows.
Roll
To wrap (something) round and round upon itself or around something else. Often used with up
Roll up a poster.
Roll
To envelop or enfold in a covering
Roll dirty laundry in a sheet.
Roll
To make by shaping into a ball or cylinder
Roll a cigarette.
Roll
To spread, compress, or flatten by applying pressure with a roller
Roll pastry dough.
Roll
(Printing) To apply ink to (type) with a roller or rollers.
Roll
(Games) To throw (dice), as in craps.
Roll
(Slang) To rob (a drunken, sleeping, or otherwise helpless person).
Roll
The act or an instance of rolling.
Roll
Something rolled up
A roll of tape.
Roll
A quantity, as of cloth or wallpaper, rolled into a cylinder and often considered as a unit of measure.
Roll
A piece of parchment or paper that may be or is rolled up; a scroll.
Roll
A register or a catalogue.
Roll
A list of names of persons belonging to a group.
Roll
A mass in cylindrical or rounded form
A roll of tobacco.
Roll
A small loaf of bread, portioned for one individual and often served as a side dish or appetizer or used to make a sandwich.
Roll
A portion of food wrapped around a filling
Cinnamon roll.
Sushi roll.
Roll
A rolling, swaying, or rocking motion.
Roll
A gentle swell or undulation of a surface
The roll of the plains.
Roll
A deep reverberation or rumble
The roll of thunder.
Roll
A rapid succession of short sounds
The roll of a drum.
Roll
A trill
The roll of his r's.
Roll
A resonant, rhythmical flow of words.
Roll
A roller, especially a cylinder on which to roll something up or with which to flatten something.
Roll
An amount of rotation around a longitudinal axis, as of an aircraft or boat.
Roll
A maneuver in which an airplane makes a single complete rotation about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude.
Roll
(Slang) Money, especially a wad of paper money.
Roll
(transitive) To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface.
To roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
Roll
(intransitive) To turn over and over.
The child will roll on the floor.
Roll
(intransitive) To tumble in gymnastics; to do a somersault.
Roll
(transitive) To wrap (something) round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over.
To roll a sheet of paper; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
Roll
(transitive) To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to enwrap; often with up.
To roll up the map for shipping.
Roll
(intransitive) To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball.
The cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
Roll
(ergative) To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling.
This river will roll its waters to the ocean.
Roll
(ergative) To utter copiously, especially with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; — often with forth, or out.
To roll forth someone's praises; to roll out sentences.
Roll
(transitive) To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers.
To roll a field;
To roll paste;
To roll steel rails.
Roll
(intransitive) To spread itself under a roller or rolling-pin.
The pastry rolls well.
Roll
(ergative) To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
Roll
To leave or begin a journey.
I want to get there early; let's roll.
Roll
To compete, especially with vigor.
OK guys, we're only down by two points. Let's roll!
Roll
(transitive) To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
Roll
(geometry) To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in such a manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
Roll
(transitive) To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Roll
To behave in a certain way; to adopt a general disposition toward a situation.
I was going to kick his ass, but he wasn't worth getting all worked up over; I don't roll like that.
Roll
To throw dice.
Roll
To roll dice such that they form a given pattern or total.
If you roll doubles, you get an extra turn.
With two dice, you're more likely to roll seven than ten.
Roll
(RPG) To create a new character in a role-playing game, especially by using dice to determine properties.
I'm gonna go and roll a new shaman tonight.
Roll
To generate a random number.
Roll
To rotate about the fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down. Compare pitch.
Roll
To travel by sailing.
Roll
(transitive) To beat up; to assault.
Roll
To cause to betray secrets or to testify for the prosecution.
The feds rolled him by giving him a free pass for most of what he'd done.
Roll
To betray secrets.
He rolled on those guys after being in jail two days.
Roll
To be under the influence of MDMA (a psychedelic stimulant, also known as ecstasy).
Roll
To (cause to) film.
The cameras are rolling.
It's time to roll the cameras.
Roll
To slip past (a defender) with the ball.
Roll
(intransitive) To have a rolling aspect.
The hills rolled on
Roll
To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution.
The years roll on.
Roll
(intransitive) To move, like waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
Roll
To move and cause an effect on someone
Roll
(intransitive) To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise.
The thunder rolled and the lightning flashed.
Roll
(transitive) To utter with an alveolar trill.
Many languages roll their r's.
Roll
To enrobe in toilet-paper (as a prank or spectacle).
The kids rolled the principal's house and yard.
Roll
(transitive) To create a customized version of.
Roll
2010, page 208, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Io7hHlVN3qQC&pg=PA208&dq=%22roll%22]
Roll
To engage in sparring in the context of jujitsu or other grappling disciplines.
Roll
To load ocean freight cargo onto a vessel other than the one it was meant to sail on.
Containers will be rolled to another mother vessel.
Roll
The act or result of rolling, or state of being rolled.
The roll of a ball
Look at the roll of the waves.
The roll of her eyes
Roll
A forward or backward roll in gymnastics; going head over heels. A tumble.
Roll
Something which rolls.
Roll
A heavy cylinder used to break clods.
Roll
One of a set of revolving cylinders, or rollers, between which metal is pressed, formed, or smoothed, as in a rolling mill.
To pass rails through the rolls
Roll
A swagger or rolling gait.
Roll
A heavy, reverberatory sound.
Hear the roll of cannon.
There was a roll of thunder and the rain began to pour down.
Roll
The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
The oscillating movement of a nautical vessel as it rotates from side to side, about its fore-and-aft axis, causing its sides to go up and down, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching; or the equivalent in an aircraft.
Roll
(nautical) The measure or extent to which a vessel rotates from side to side, about its fore-and-aft axis.
Roll
The rotation angle about the longitudinal axis.
Calculate the roll of that aircraft.
Roll
An instance of the act of rolling an aircraft through one or more complete rotations about its longitudinal axis.
The pilots entertained the spectators at the airshow by doing multiple rolls.
Roll
The act of, or total resulting from, rolling one or more dice.
Make your roll.
Whoever gets the highest roll moves first.
Roll
A winning streak of continuing luck, especially at gambling and especially in the phrase on a roll.
He is on a roll tonight.
Roll
A training match for a fighting dog.
Roll
An instance of the act of righting a canoe or kayak which has capsized, without exiting the watercraft, or being assisted.
That was a good roll.
Roll
(paddlesport) The skill of righting a canoe or kayak which has capsized, without exiting the watercraft, or being assisted.
She has a bombproof roll.
Roll
(finance) Any of various financial instruments or transactions that involve opposite positions at different expiries, "rolling" a position from one expiry to another.
Roll
That which is rolled up.
A roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
Roll
A document written on a piece of parchment, paper, or other materials which may be rolled up; a scroll.
Roll
An official or public document; a register; a record.
Roll
A catalogue or list, (especially) one kept for official purposes.
Several people sued the state after finding out that they'd been removed from the voter rolls for having died, despite their not actually being dead.
Roll
A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form.
A roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon
Roll
A cylindrical twist of tobacco.
Roll
A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself; see also bread roll.
Roll
(obsolete) A part; an office; a duty; a role.
Roll
A measure of parchments, containing five dozen.
Roll
To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface; as, to roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
Roll
To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as, to roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
Roll
To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap; - often with up; as, to roll up a parcel.
Roll
To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as, a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
The flood of Catholic reaction was rolled over Europe.
Roll
To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; - often with forth, or out; as, to roll forth some one's praises; to roll out sentences.
Who roll'd the psalm to wintry skies.
Roll
To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers; as, to roll a field; to roll paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
Roll
To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
Roll
To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
Roll
To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
Roll
To turn over in one's mind; to revolve.
Full oft in heart he rolleth up and downThe beauty of these florins new and bright.
Roll
To move, as a curved object may, along a surface by rotation without sliding; to revolve upon an axis; to turn over and over; as, a ball or wheel rolls on the earth; a body rolls on an inclined plane.
And her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls, and rolls, and rolls.
Roll
To move on wheels; as, the carriage rolls along the street.
Roll
To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball; as, the cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
Roll
To fall or tumble; - with over; as, a stream rolls over a precipice.
Roll
To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution; as, the rolling year; ages roll away.
Roll
To turn; to move circularly.
And his red eyeballs roll with living fire.
Roll
To move, as waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression.
What different sorrows did within thee roll.
Roll
To incline first to one side, then to the other; to rock; as, there is a great difference in ships about rolling; in a general semse, to be tossed about.
Twice ten tempestuous nights I rolled.
Roll
To turn over, or from side to side, while lying down; to wallow; as, a horse rolls.
Roll
To spread under a roller or rolling-pin; as, the paste rolls well.
Roll
To beat a drum with strokes so rapid that they can scarcely be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise; as, the thunder rolls.
Man shall not suffer his wife go roll about.
Roll
The act of rolling, or state of being rolled; as, the roll of a ball; the roll of waves.
Roll
That which rolls; a roller.
Roll
That which is rolled up; as, a roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc.
Busy angels spreadThe lasting roll, recording what we say.
Roll
Hence, an official or public document; a register; a record; also, a catalogue; a list.
The rolls of Parliament, the entry of the petitions, answers, and transactions in Parliament, are extant.
The roll and list of that army doth remain.
Roll
A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself.
Roll
A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form; as, a roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon.
Roll
The oscillating movement of a vessel from side to side, in sea way, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.
Roll
A heavy, reverberatory sound; as, the roll of cannon, or of thunder.
Roll
The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
Roll
Part; office; duty; rôle.
Roll
Rotary motion of an object around its own axis;
Wheels in axial rotation
Roll
A list of names;
His name was struck off the rolls
Roll
A long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore
Roll
Photographic film rolled up inside a container to protect it from light
Roll
A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
Roll
A roll of currency notes (often taken as the resources of a person or business etc.);
He shot his roll on a bob-tailed nag
Roll
Small rounded bread either plain or sweet
Roll
A deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
Roll
The sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously
Roll
A document that can be rolled up (as for storage)
Roll
Anything rolled up in cylindrical form
Roll
The act of throwing dice
Roll
Walking with a rolling gait
Roll
A flight maneuver; aircraft rotates about its longitudinal axis without changing direction or losing altitude
Roll
The act of rolling something (as the ball in bowling)
Roll
Move by turning over or rotating;
The child rolled down the hill
Turn over on your left side
Roll
Move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle;
The President's convoy rolled past the crowds
Roll
Occur in soft rounded shapes;
The hills rolled past
Roll
Flatten or spread with a roller;
Roll out the paper
Roll
Emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound;
The thunder rolled
Rolling drums
Roll
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Roll
Begin operating or running;
The cameras were rolling
The presses are already rolling
Roll
Shape by rolling;
Roll a cigarette
Roll
Execute a roll, in tumbling;
The gymnasts rolled and jumped
Roll
Sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity
Roll
Move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion;
The curtains undulated
The waves rolled towards the beach
Roll
Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment;
The gypsies roamed the woods
Roving vagabonds
The wandering Jew
The cattle roam across the prairie
The laborers drift from one town to the next
They rolled from town to town
Roll
Move, rock, or sway from side to side;
The ship rolled on the heavy seas
Roll
Cause to move by turning over or in a circular manner of as if on an axis;
She rolled the ball
They rolled their eyes at his words
Roll
Pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/;
She rolls her r's
Roll
Boil vigorously;
The liquid was seething
The water rolled
Roll
Take the shape of a roll or cylinder;
The carpet rolled out
Yarn rolls well
Roll
Show certain properties when being rolled;
The carpet rolls unevenly
Dried-out tobacco rolls badly
Roll
Rotate
He watched the coin roll down the street.
Roll
List
The teacher called roll in the morning.
Common Curiosities
How is "role" used in a job?
It describes a person's job title and responsibilities.
Can "roll" mean something other than movement?
Yes, it can refer to a type of bread or a list of names.
What does "roll out" mean?
It can mean to officially launch or introduce something.
Is "role" ever a verb?
Rarely, if ever; it's predominantly a noun.
Can "roll" be used in sports?
Yes, like "roll a ball" in bowling or soccer.
Does "roll" have a musical meaning?
Yes, like a "drum roll" which is a rapid series of drumbeats.
What does "role" mean in drama?
It's the character portrayed by an actor.
Is "roll call" a type of bread?
No, it's the act of reading names from a list to check attendance.
What's a "role model"?
Someone admired for their behavior and qualities, worthy of imitation.
How do you define "gender role"?
It's a societal norm dictating behaviors regarded as appropriate for each gender.
What does "on a roll" mean?
It means experiencing a particularly successful period.
How is "role" used in gaming?
It can refer to a player's character or class in a role-playing game.
Can "roll" be used in finance?
Yes, in terms like "roll over a loan" or "roll into a new investment."
What is the "role" of a teacher?
It's to educate and guide students.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
