English French Spanish More dictionaries More

Definition of 'role'

Word Frequency

role

(roʊl )

Word forms: plural roles

1. countable noun

If you have a role in a situation or in society, you have a particular position and function in it.

...the drug's role in preventing more serious effects of infection. [+ in]

...bitter disagreements about the role of the monarchy.

Both sides have roles to play.

[Also + of/as]

2. countable noun

A role is one of the characters that an actor or singer can play in a film, play, or opera.

She has just landed the lead role in The Young Vic's latest production.

Shakespearean women's roles were originally written to be played by men.

More Synonyms of role

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of
role

Youtube video

You may also like

Language Lover's

Language Lover's

French Translation of

French Translation of

Word of the day: ode

Word of the day:

Hindi Translation of

Hindi Translation of

Word Frequency

role in British English

or rôle (rəʊl )

noun

1.

a part or character in a play, film, etc, to be played by an actor or actress

2. psychology

the part played by a person in a particular social setting, influenced by his or her expectation of what is appropriate

3.

usual or customary function

what is her role in the organization?

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Word origin

C17: from French rôle roll, an actor's script

Word Frequency

role in American English

(roʊl )

noun

1.

a part, or character, that an actor plays in a performance

2.

a function or office assumed by someone

an advisory role

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word origin

Fr rôle, lit., a roll: from roll containing actor's part

Word Frequency

role in American English

(roul)

noun

1.

a part or character played by an actor or actress

2.

proper or customary function

the teacher's role in society

3. Sociology

the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status

Also: rôle

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Word origin

[1600–10; ‹ F rôle roll (as of paper) containing the actor's part]

Examples of 'role' in a sentence
role

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

We should confidently promote them and the role they play.His varied career is mainly defined by character roles.Yet it is his role as part of that attacking unit that is crucial.The issue of integration will play a huge role in that.Gender roles are definitely part of the problem.Rugby union is one gigantic chain with one man's role integral to another.It was a free role, but one which meant he would become the hardest working player in the team.And he will play the lead role again, though he doesn't know when.I was only meant to be on it for 15 minutes, and the role just grew and grew.Tourism has played a major role in helping countries affected by war.

Show more...

COBUILD Collocations
role

influential role

significant role

strengthen the role of

Trends of
role

View usage for:

In other languages
role

British English: role /rəʊl/ NOUN

The role of someone or something in a situation is their job or position in it.

Parents need to be clear about their role in raising their children.

American English: role /ˈroʊl/
Arabic: دَوْر
Brazilian Portuguese: função
Chinese: 角色
Croatian: uloga
Czech: úloha
Danish: rolle
Dutch: rol functie, toneel
European Spanish: papel rol
Finnish: rooli
French: rôle
German: Rolle Aufgabe
Greek: ρόλος
Italian: ruolo
Japanese: 役割
Korean: 역할
Norwegian: rolle
Polish: rola teatr
European Portuguese: função
Romanian: rol
Russian: роль
Latin American Spanish: papel
Swedish: roll
Thai: บทบาทหน้าที่
Turkish: rol
Ukrainian: роль
Vietnamese: vai trò

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of
role

Related terms of
role

Source

Definition of role from theCollins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

knead or need?

Which version is correct?

Lightly knead the mixture on a floured surface. Lightly need the mixture on a floured surface.

pidgin or pigeon?

Which version is correct?

He was immensely proud of his prize pidgin. He was immensely proud of his prize pigeon.

moose or mousse?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

moose

mousse

The wolf's prey can range from elk to .

hour or our?

Which version is correct?

We were locked out of hour apartment yesterday. We were locked out of our apartment yesterday.

read or reed?

Which version is correct?

Are you going to read this book? Are you going to reed this book?

Your score:

May 11, 2021

Word of the day

ode

An ode is a poem, especially one that is written in praise of a particular person, thing, or event .

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

green list May 10, 2021

omurice May 08, 2021

onion bag May 08, 2021

soonicorn May 07, 2021

View More Submit

National Limerick Day

For National Limerick Day Collins Dictionary looks at the ground rules and patterns a limerick must follow, and discusses their origin. Read more

7 Shakespearean words to add to your vocabulary

It’s English Language Day! The annual event where language lovers come together to celebrate the great William Shakespeare and a chance to celebrate multilingualism in English-speaking countries around the globe. We’re celebrating with this list of 7 Shakespearean words to weave into your vocabulary. Without further ado, let us go forth. Read more

What is brain fog anyway?

Brain fog has been on people’s minds in more ways than one during the pandemic and after the recent lockdownversary. Whether you’re struggling to concentrate in meetings, finding creative thinking nearly impossible, or you’ve lost interest in cracking into that latest bestseller, brain fog has become more common amongst the population. Read more

Collins English Dictionary Apps

Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android. Read more

Collins Dictionaries for Schools

Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom. Read more

We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! Read more

Join the Collins community

All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month. Read more

Scrabble score
for 'role':
4

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

long-term goal or winning goal?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

long-term goal

winning goal

This needs to be approached in a realistic manner.

consume energy or muster the energy?

Which version is correct?

It's a wonder she can consume energy to smile. It's a wonder she can muster the energy to smile.

complex plot or vegetable plot?

Which version is correct?

The warm wet weather is working wonders on the complex plot. The warm wet weather is working wonders on the vegetable plot.

murder scene or music scene?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

murder scene

music scene

Mobile signals enabled police to place them at the .

environmental damage or nerve damage?

Which version is correct?

Rescue workers were trying to limit any environmental damage. Rescue workers were trying to limit any nerve damage.

Your score:

Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content

Register now or log in to access