To reverse or reduce something, especially prices, laws, or policies, to a previous level.
To change something back to the way it was before — usually a rule, price, or plan.
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To reduce prices to a lower level, especially as a promotion.
"The supermarket rolled back the prices on hundreds of items to attract more shoppers."
Rollback. That's our goal.
— Walmart advertising slogan (1990s–2000s), associated with the 'Rollback' pricing campaign
To reverse, repeal, or undo a law, policy, or social progress.
"The new government threatened to roll back environmental protections put in place over the previous decade."
To move backward by rolling, especially a vehicle.
"Make sure you put the handbrake on — the car will roll back on this hill."
To push back an enemy or opposing force to a previous position.
"The troops managed to roll back the enemy advance overnight."
To roll something back to its original position — the figurative sense follows this image of reversing direction.
To change something back to the way it was before — usually a rule, price, or plan.
Very common in political and business journalism. 'Roll back prices' is a famous phrase associated with Walmart's advertising in the US. In computing, 'rollback' (one word, noun) refers to reverting to a previous version of a database or system. The intransitive physical use (a vehicle rolling backwards) is more literal and less common.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "roll back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.