variants
or less commonly rôle
1
a(1)
: a character assigned or assumed
had to take on the role of both father and mother
(2)
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
b
: a part played by an actor or singer
2
: a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process
played a major role in the negotiations
Examples of role in a Sentence
He plays the role of the villain.
She was given the starring role.
I had a minor role in the play.
After her husband left her, she had to take on the dual role of mother and father for her children.
She likes to play the role of matchmaker with her friends.
She challenged the traditional roles assigned to women.
We'll switch roles this time, and you can wash the dishes while I dry them.
It was a case of role reversal: the father stayed home with the children while the mother worked.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ethical governance, on the other hand, plays a key role for any business, fostering transparency to further promote inclusivity and ensure trade is conducted ethically and equitably.
—
Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Director Stephan Elliott announced last year that a sequel film is forthcoming, with Pearce and fellow stars Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp set to reprise their roles.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 18 Feb. 2025
Clearly those streams played a role in the track’s overall success., but sales pushed it higher than plays on platforms like Spotify and Apple music.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Goldberg played a major role on the show Snowpiercer and has also been seen on Westworld, Get Shorty, The Last Tycoon, Salem, Peaky Blinders and other series.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Director Stephan Elliott announced last year that a sequel film is forthcoming, with Pearce and fellow stars Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp set to reprise their roles.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 18 Feb. 2025
Clearly those streams played a role in the track’s overall success., but sales pushed it higher than plays on platforms like Spotify and Apple music.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Goldberg played a major role on the show Snowpiercer and has also been seen on Westworld, Get Shorty, The Last Tycoon, Salem, Peaky Blinders and other series.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
Cite this Entry
“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
1
a
: a character assigned or taken on
b
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
c
: a part played by an actor or singer
a starring role
2
: function entry 1 sense 2a
the role of enzymes in digestion
Etymology
from French rôle "part played by an actor," literally "scroll"; so called because before the use of books, the actor's parts were written on scrolls
Medical Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
: a socially prescribed pattern of behavior usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
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