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: holiday

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
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: หน้าที่หรือบทบาท
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 the Collins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

bail or bale?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

bale

bail

There was only one of hay left.

driven or drove?

Which version is correct?

We have driven past the place numerous times. We have drove past the place numerous times.

grate or great?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

Grate

Great

250g of cheddar and add to the sauce.

boy or buoy?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

buoy

boy

We moored the boat to an orange .

dew or due?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

due

dew

The results are at the end of the month.

Your score:

Dec 23, 2020

Word of the day

holiday

A holiday is a period of time during which you relax and enjoy yourself away from home . People sometimes refer to their holiday as their holidays .

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

kernowite Dec 23, 2020

liroconite Dec 23, 2020

resignate Dec 20, 2020

shooting slop Dec 20, 2020

View More Submit

Food for thought this Christmas

I don’t know about you, but I’m already salivating at the prospect of Christmas food. The first pangs start early in December with the nostalgia rush I get upon spotting dinky net bags of mixed nuts for sale. Read more

Eight Gaelic words from the Collins English Dictionary

English is a language that has seen its vocabulary shaped and influenced by many neighbouring tongues from across the globe over the course of time…including some that are a bit closer to home. Read more

International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day (sometimes abbreviated to IVD) takes place annually on December 5th. It is an ‘International Day’ established by the United Nations to recognize and promote the contribution made by volunteers and voluntary organizations to the wellbeing of people across the globe. 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

foul or fowl?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

fowl

foul

Carve the into eight pieces.

scene or seen?

Which version is correct?

It's a scene of complete devastation. It's a seen of complete devastation.

gait or gate?

Which version is correct?

He opened the gait and started walking up to the house. He opened the gate and started walking up to the house.

miner or minor?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

miner

minor

I watched as each coal was brought to safety.

manner or manor?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

manner

manor

She smiled again in a friendly .

Your score:

Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content

Register now or log in to access