WordGarden.iounroll
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnrˈəʊl/
US
- /ˌənˈroʊl/
Meanings
Verb
to open, spread, or let something out from a rolled-up state
to replace a loop or repeated process with explicit repeated steps, especially in programming
Beyond the definition
Imagine a tightly wound scroll holding ancient secrets or a bright rug packed away for later. To unroll something is to let it spread out from a rolled or folded state, showing what was hidden inside. You might unroll a map to plan a trip or unroll dough to make pizza. It is about opening something up and making it easy to see. Sometimes, "unroll" can also describe events unfolding over time, like a story unrolling before your eyes.
Think of it like this: you roll something up to contain it, and then unroll it to release it. A baker might unroll pastry dough, while a sailor unrolls the sails on a ship. The context often suggests whether we're talking about a physical object or a sequence of events.
To unroll means to spread out something that was previously rolled, folded, or coiled. It implies a movement from being compact and contained to being open and extended. Think of the satisfying moment when you unroll a new yoga mat for your morning practice, or the careful process of unrolling a delicate antique tapestry.
The action can be literal, like unrolling a sleeping bag before camping, or figurative. A mystery might "unroll" slowly as clues are revealed, or a plan could "unroll" step-by-step as it's put into action. In this sense, it suggests a gradual unfolding of events or information. The word often carries a sense of anticipation and discovery. When you unroll something, you're revealing what was hidden—whether it's a beautiful pattern on fabric, the route on a map, or the details of a story.
You might also hear "unroll" used in relation to time: "As the years unrolled" suggests that time passed gradually and revealed new experiences. This use is less common than the physical one, but it still gives the sense of things opening little by little.
So, whether you're physically spreading something out or watching events unfold, "unroll" is about release, revelation, and the passage of time.
Examples
- 1
Exercise
She unrolled her yoga mat in the living room before class started.
- 2
Map reading
He unrolled the map across the table and traced the route with his finger.
- 3
Machine output
A long strip of paper unrolled from the machine and curled onto the floor.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- unrollverb
Forms
- unrolledpast tenseverb
- unrolling-ing formverb
- unrollsverb