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
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?
Word origin
C17: from French rôleroll, an actor's script
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
Word origin
Fr rôle, lit., a roll: from roll containing actor's part
COBUILD Collocations
role
big role
combat role
critical role
defensive role
defined role
dominant role
film role
fulfil a role
important role
influential role
major role
minor role
movie role
pivotal role
screen role
significant role
vital role
Examples of 'role' in a sentence
role
We should confidently promote them and the role they play.
The Sun (2016)
His varied career is mainly defined by character roles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet it is his role as part of that attacking unit that is crucial.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The issue of integration will play a huge role in that.
The Sun (2016)
Gender roles are definitely part of the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Rugby union is one gigantic chain with one man's role integral to another.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a free role, but one which meant he would become the hardest working player in the team.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
And he will play the lead role again, though he doesn't know when.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I was only meant to be on it for 15 minutes, and the role just grew and grew.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Tourism has played a major role in helping countries affected by war.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Your role is just to walk through.
The Sun (2012)
In films she specialised in supporting roles and character parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Each of us has a specific role that no one can replace.
Christianity Today (2000)
The team talks are part of my role.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She continued to appear in supporting roles in important studio films and starring roles in smaller movies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But there were to be other older actors playing key roles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can think clearly about work and plans you make today play a lucky role in your future.
The Sun (2008)
You tell me one glamorous role that is in a good movie you have seen in the last ten years.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Played a leading role in the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
My role is just to be there, to comfort him and hopefully make him smile.
The Sun (2015)
An enthusiastic and accomplished actor, he took lead roles in many of their productions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No one person has taken on mum's role or character.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's just that our role and focus have changed.
Lindenfield, Gael 50 Ways to Become a Self-Confident Woman (1989)
He had fulfilled his own executioner's role.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
I saw an early screening of her first leading role and thought she was brilliant.
The Sun (2015)
I do tend to get cast in roles where the characters are pretty rough and very damaged.
The Sun (2016)
The whole point of the man is running around - it's a role for an actor.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And indeed he hadn't: at least six actors took his role.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
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
All related terms of 'role'
big role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
film role
A role is one of the characters that an actor or singer can play in a film, play, or opera .
role-play
Role play is the act of imitating the character and behaviour of someone who is different from yourself, for example as a training exercise.
combat role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
gender role
a role that is determined by a person's gender
major role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
minor role
If you have a role in a situation or in society, you have a particular position and function in it.
movie role
A role is one of the characters that an actor or singer can play in a film, play, or opera .
role model
A role model is someone you admire and try to imitate .
screen role
A role is one of the characters that an actor or singer can play in a film, play, or opera .
title role
The title role in a play or film is the role referred to in the name of the play or film.
vital role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
critical role
If you have a role in a situation or in society, you have a particular position and function in it.
defined role
If you have a role in a situation or in society, you have a particular position and function in it.
dominant role
If you have a role in a situation or in society, you have a particular position and function in it.
leading role
an important part
pivotal role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
role playing
role-play used as a method of training or education
role reversal
Role reversal is a situation in which two people have chosen or been forced to exchange their duties and responsibilities, so that each is now doing what the other used to do.
speaking role
→ another name for speaking part
starring role
a main role ; the main role
defensive role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
important role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
supporting role
a fairly important but not leading part, esp in a play or film
fulfil a role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
influential role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
significant role
If you have a role in a situation or in society , you have a particular position and function in it.
role-playing game
a game in which players assume the roles of fantasy characters
play a part/play a role
If something or someone plays a part or plays a role in a situation , they are involved in it and have an effect on it.