unroll

verb

un·​roll ˌən-ˈrōl How to pronounce unroll (audio)
unrolled; unrolling; unrolls
Synonyms of unrollnext

transitive verb

1
: to unwind a roll of : open out : uncoil
2
: to spread out like a scroll for reading or inspection : unfold, reveal

intransitive verb

: to be unrolled : unwind

Examples of unroll in a Sentence

He carefully unrolled the ancient scroll. I unrolled the new carpet. When we arrived at the cabin, we unrolled our sleeping bags. The hose will unroll if you pull on it. Last week, the government unrolled a new vaccination campaign. The scandal unrolled over the course of several weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then unroll the towel and allow the suit to dry flat. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 June 2026 Loosely roll dough around rolling pin and gently unroll it onto 9-inch pie plate, letting excess dough hang over edge. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 Now that it has been unrolled, efforts to determine the authorship of the paper is underway. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 26 June 2026 These kinds of old negatives are often stored inside cans and are so fragile they can’t be unrolled without destroying them, Seales says. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unroll

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unroll was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unroll

See All Rhymes for unroll

Browse Nearby Words

unrobe
unroll
unromantic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unroll. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unroll

verb
un·​roll ˌən-ˈrōl How to pronounce unroll (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to unwind a roll of : open out
unroll a carpet
2
: disclose
the government unrolled a new program
3
: to become unrolled or spread out : unfold
a view of mountains unrolled before them

More from Merriam-Webster on unroll

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unroll

Nglish: Translation of unroll for Spanish Speakers

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