2
general::
role
verbs
play/have a role
• He played a prominent role in the company’s success.
take on a role
( also assume a role formal ) (= start having it )
• Mr Jones took on the role of spokesperson for the organization.
take a role
• Britain began to take a more active role in the affairs of Europe.
give somebody a role
• Health experts should be given a key role in developing the correct procedures.
cast somebody in a role
written (= give someone a role, especially one they do not want )
• He found himself cast in the role of guide and translator.
adjectives
an important/major role
• She played an important role in her husband’s political career.
a key/central role
• The report recognized the key role of teachers.
a vital/crucial/essential role
• Every member of the team has a vital role to play.
an active role
(= when you do practical things to achieve particular aims )
• She took an active role in the community.
a leading role
(= the most important role )
• They take a leading role in discussions.
a significant role
• Technology is already playing a significant role in classroom teaching.
a prominent role
• The military has played a prominent role in Burmese politics.
a dual role
(= when someone or something does two things )
• People have dual roles in society as producers and consumers.
sb’s traditional role
(= one based on ideas that have existed for a long time, without changing )
• Some women are happy with their traditional role as carers.
role 2
verbs
play a role
• She was the first actress to play the role of Peter Pan.
have a role
• His son has a small role in the series.
take a role
• In the end, I decided not to take the role.
land a role
(= be given a role )
• In 1982 he landed a role in the musical 'Destry Rides Again'.
cast somebody in a role
(= give them a role )
• Television producers would not cast her in lead roles.
adjectives
a major/big role
• It was his first major role.
a minor/small role
• He has had small roles in several other films.
the lead/leading role
(= the most important role )
• He had already cast Tom Hanks in the lead role.
a starring role
(= one of the most important roles )
• She was offered the starring role in a new British stage comedy.
the title role
(= the role of the character whose name is the title of the film or play )
• She will play the title role in ‘Emma’ later this year.
a supporting role
(= not one of the main roles )
• Lee has a supporting role as Judy’s best friend,
a comic role
• She admits she is attracted to comic roles.
transnet.ir
3
general::
noun in a play, film, etc. ADJ. lead, leading, starring, title | supporting | comic, tragic | cameo | film, television | TV VERB + ROLE perform, play, take John's playing the leading role in this year's play. | cast sb in | interpret She interprets the role as more tragic than I expected. PREP. in the ~ (of) He was very good in the role. position and importance ADJ. central, crucial, decisive, dominant, essential, fundamental, important, key, leading, major, pivotal, primary, prominent, significant, vital | minor, secondary, subordinate | constructive, full, positive, useful, valuable | active | passive | direct | clear Every member of staff must have a clear role. | traditional | changing | dual, twin She has a dual role as principal and French teacher. | conflicting her conflicting roles as mother and manager of a large company | advisory, consultative, managerial, supervisory | maternal, parental | economic, educational, military, political, social, strategic the economic role of small towns A cup of tea often serves an important social role. | symbolic VERB + ROLE have, occupy, perform, play, serve Regional managers occupy a crucial role in developing a strategic framework. | provide (sb/sth with) | adopt, assume, take (on) I've had to take on the role of mother in her absence. | fulfil He really wants to fulfil his role as godfather properly. | cast sb in He has been cast in the role of chief apologist for the government. | find We need to find a useful role for the volunteers in the campaign. | define, redefine a clearly defined role within the group | swap ROLE + NOUN model | reversal PREP. in a/the ~ She has joined the team in a consultative role. | ~ as the teacher's role as instructor | ~ for The new prime minister promised a greater role for women in government. | ~ in Pressure groups played a major role in bringing about the reforms.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary