roll-up
Americannoun
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Also rollup something, as a carpet or window shade, that can be rolled up when not in use.
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Informal. an increase, as in value or cost.
verb
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to form or cause to form a cylindrical shape
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(tr) to wrap (an object) round on itself or on an axis
to roll up a map
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informal (intr) to arrive, esp in a vehicle
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(intr) to proceed or develop
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(intr) to assemble; congregate
noun
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informal a cigarette made by hand from loose tobacco and cigarette paper
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(in the 19th century) a mass meeting of workers on an issue of common concern
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archaic the attendance at any fixture
they had a good roll-up
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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]
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Arrive in a vehicle, as in They rolled up in a taxi at exactly eight o'clock .
Usage
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.
Etymology
Origin of roll-up
First recorded in 1745–55; noun use of verb phrase roll up
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.
My generation found it much easier to roll-up big fat nest eggs than any other generation in American history.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
That would be a roll-up in the case of a call bull spread or a roll-down in the case of a bear put spread.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025
First Brands’ trade financiers and creditors who opposed the bankruptcy loan raised concerns about the size of the roll-up, noting that it could inhibit their ability to be repaid.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
TikTok is a place where food trends go viral - from the pickle challenge which involved eating a hot pickle wrapped in a fruit roll-up - to Dubai chocolate which sparked a shopping frenzy.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2025
They slowed, then stopped so that he could put the finishing touches to her roll-up.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
