Also rollup something, as a carpet or window shade, that can be rolled up when not in use.
Informal. an increase, as in value or cost.
to form or cause to form a cylindrical shape
(tr) to wrap (an object) round on itself or on an axis
to roll up a map
informal (intr) to arrive, esp in a vehicle
(intr) to proceed or develop
(intr) to assemble; congregate
informal a cigarette made by hand from loose tobacco and cigarette paper
(in the 19th century) a mass meeting of workers on an issue of common concern
archaic the attendance at any fixture
they had a good roll-up
Accumulate, as in He rolled up a fortune in commodity trading , or She rolled up a huge number of votes in this district . [Mid-1800s]
Arrive in a vehicle, as in They rolled up in a taxi at exactly eight o'clock .
What does roll-up mean? A roll-up is something that can be easily rolled into a cylinder, such as a rug or a window shade. Informally, a roll-up is also an increase, such as with a roll-up cost. Roll-up can also be spelled rollup. Roll up means to wrap an object around itself or on an axis, as with a map. Informally, roll up can also mean to arrive, especially in a vehicle. Example: Roll up that blanket and throw it in the picnic basket.
First recorded in 1745–55; noun use of verb phrase roll up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2002, Davis became president of RCA Music Group, a roll-up of his labels and RCA Records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
When police opened the roll-up door, they found 21 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels confined inside, several of which were pregnant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
But successfully executing a roll-up strategy is easier said than done, said Beisner, who worked as an HOA manager—including for a private-equity-owned company—before becoming an adviser.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
QXO, the building products roll-up founded by billionaire Brad Jacobs, announced on Sunday that it would acquire insulation firm TopBuild for $17 billion, expanding its capabilities across the building products value chain.
From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026
A grocery store down the block is opening its roll-up doors for business as the moon hangs high above this bank up ahead.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Fire crews were ordered to roll up their hoses, despite complaints that a more thorough mop-up was needed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
That would be roll up in the case of a call-bull spread or roll down in the case of a bear- put spread.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
“I had tried some Burgundies, but nothing had made my socks roll up and down until I bought this bottle,” says Meadows, who has written a newsletter for 26 years about the region’s wines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
Roll up, roll up - it's time for BBC Sport's first end-of-season football awards.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
I clench my jaw and roll up my fists.
From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender
But roll-ups grow only by buying more companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
The FTC began to target roll-ups for the first time under President Joe Biden, according to Garden-Monheit.
From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2025
"The FTC will continue to scrutinize and challenge serial acquisitions, roll-ups, and other stealth consolidation schemes that unlawfully undermine fair competition and harm the American public," Khan said in a statement on Thursday.
From Reuters ● Sep. 21, 2023
We were girls who loved puffy stickers, fruit roll-ups, jelly shoes, Madonna bracelets and Cabbage Patch Kids.
From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
The men in bags, roll-ups, muffs, and solitaires.
From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 09 — Lives and Letters by Mee, Arthur
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.
