role

/rəʊl/ (bre, ipa) · /rəʊl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrōl/ (ame, mw)

role — noun

  • rolesingular
  • rolesplural

1. the expected duties and behaviors that come with a particular position within a

1.名詞A2
釋義

the expected duties and behaviors that come with a particular position within a group, system, or situation

例句

The manager asked each team member to explain their role in the project.

possessive: their role in [something]

Parents play an important role in helping children develop good habits.

collocation: play a … role in

同義詞
  • position

    more formal, often used in job or hierarchy contexts

  • function

    focuses on what something does rather than its social standing

  • part

    less formal, common in everyday speech; also overlaps with sense 2

  • capacity

    formal; used in official or legal contexts ('in her capacity as chair')

文法句型

role in [something]

role of [someone/something]

play/have/take on a role

用法筆記

Often paired with play, have, or take on. The prepositions in and of are both common: role in introduces a situation or activity, while role of introduces the person or thing filling the position.

常見錯誤

❌She plays an important role on the team.
✅She plays an important role in the team.
💡The correct preposition is in, not on.
❌Everyone has their own roll in the group.
✅Everyone has their own role in the group.
💡Role (position) and roll (to turn over) are homophones; do not confuse the spelling.

2. the character that a performer acts out in a movie, play, or television show

2.名詞B1
釋義

the character that a performer acts out in a movie, play, or television show

例句

Samir got the lead role in the school play this year.

collocation: lead role

The director asked Evelyn to prepare for the role of a young doctor.

preposition: role of [character]

同義詞
  • part

    interchangeable in most performance contexts; slightly less formal

  • character

    emphasises the fictional person rather than the actor's assignment

  • portrayal

    focuses on the way the actor performs the role

文法句型

role of [character]

play the role of [character]

lead / supporting role

用法筆記

When naming the specific character an actor plays, the structure is role of [character name], as in role of Hamlet. This sense is distinct from sense 1 in that it refers strictly to performance contexts such as theatre, film, or television.

常見錯誤

❌He played the role from Hamlet.
✅He played the role of Hamlet.
💡Use of, not from, when naming the character portrayed.
❌She got a main role in the movie.
✅She got the lead role in the movie.
💡The standard expression is lead role, not main role.