French word

dérouler

Pronunciation

IPA/deʁule/

Meaning

  • verbtake place

Example

La cérémonie va se dérouler demain.

The ceremony will take place tomorrow.

Illustration for dérouler (take place)

More examples

Le spectacle se déroule en plein air.

The show is taking place outdoors.

Core concept

A rolled ribbon opens step by step, with each stage leading naturally to the next.

Common phrases

  • se dérouler en douceur

    go smoothly

  • se dérouler demain

    take place tomorrow

Similar words

avoir lieu: Be held or occur at a particular time or place.
se passer: Happen or take place in given circumstances.
arriver: Come about as an event or change.

Definition in French

dérouler (souvent au pronominal se dérouler) signifie qu'un fait, une cérémonie ou une action se passe en suivant une succession d'étapes.

Word origin

French dérouler combines dé- with rouler and extends the physical sense of unrolling something to the unfolding of an event.

Usage tips

  • The pronominal form se dérouler describes an event unfolding, while transitive dérouler means to unroll or unfold something directly.

Other meanings

  • proceedverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word