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roll back

B2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To change something back to the way it was before — usually a rule, price, or plan.

Literal meaning: To roll something back to its original position — the figurative sense follows this image of reversing direction.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

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
Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

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."

Grammar: separable
3 A2 neutral

To move backward by rolling, especially a vehicle.

"Make sure you put the handbrake on — the car will roll back on this hill."

4 B2 idiomatic neutral

To push back an enemy or opposing force to a previous position.

"The troops managed to roll back the enemy advance overnight."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

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.

Commonly used with

prices regulations laws rights progress policies reforms tariffs

Forms

Base
roll back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rolls back
he/she/it
Past simple
rolled back
yesterday
Past participle
rolled back
have + pp
-ing form
rolling back
continuous

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