unroll

verb

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

transitive verb

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

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 By using computer technology and advanced artificial intelligence, researchers can now analyze the Herculaneum scrolls without unrolling and risking damage to the extremely fragile documents. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024 Nobody has tried to physically unroll them since the 19th century. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 Even when people have succeeded in unrolling parts of them, they cannot be read with the naked eye because the ink and paper are too blackened. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2024 The goal of the competition was to use artificial intelligence, machine learning and crowdsourcing to digitally unroll a Herculaneum scroll and finally reveal the mysterious contents of the text. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2024 Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg News Companies weighed down with too much debt may be able to avoid bankruptcy in 2024, thanks to an easing in monetary policy the Federal Reserve is expected to unroll in coming months. Alexander Saeedy, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2023 Scholars who tried to unroll them stopped after finding that their methods destroyed the scrolls while yielding very little text. Nicholas Wade, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023 To lure these younger donors in, the medical device company Abbott Laboratories has unrolled a mixed-reality experience at blood donation centers across the United States. Condé Nast, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2024 The group’s premiere match—advertised via stylish promotional campaigns unrolled on Instagram and TikTok—took place in New York City’s historic Capitale building on Bowery in late September, and sold out in just two hours; among its attendees was Supreme founder James Jebbia. Cassidy George, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unroll.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near unroll

Cite this Entry

“Unroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unroll. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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