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.
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
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
A group of hedge funds agreed to provide First Brands with a $1.1 billion debtor-in-possession loan, along with a $3.3 billion roll-up of their existing claims.
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
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
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.
