role
Americannoun
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a part or character played by an actor or actress.
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proper or customary function.
the role of religion in society.
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the function assumed by a person or thing in a given action or process.
Schools offer few practical tools to help students explore their role in shaping the future.
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Sociology. the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status.
When studying child development, it was critical to study the father's role.
noun
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a part or character in a play, film, etc, to be played by an actor or actress
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psychol the part played by a person in a particular social setting, influenced by his expectation of what is appropriate
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usual or customary function
what is his role in the organization?
Other Word Forms
- multirole adjective
Etymology
Origin of role
First recorded in 1600–10; from French rôle “roll (of paper containing the actor's part)”; roll
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was named best actor for his role in vampire horror Sinners, which also scored the top prize of the night - best ensemble cast.
From BBC
Ford said he was “not an overnight success,” having spent the first 15 years of his career jumping between acting and carpentry before landing an acting role.
From Los Angeles Times
Catherine O’Hara won a posthumous Actor Award for actress in a comedy series for her role in “The Studio.”
From Los Angeles Times
With the closer role firmly defined for the first time since Kenley Jansen was on the team in 2021, how the rest of the bullpen falls into place remains a work in progress.
From Los Angeles Times
While even Flavio at first appeared unsure about his candidacy, at one point saying he might abandon his presidential aspirations for a "price", he has leaned into the role and slowly risen in opinion polls.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
