package
Americannoun
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packages
plural
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a bundle of something, usually of small or medium size, that is packed and wrapped or boxed; parcel.
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a container, as a box or case, in which something is or may be packed.
- Synonyms:
- carton
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something conceived of as a compact unit having particular characteristics.
That child is a package of mischief.
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the packing of goods, freight, etc.
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a finished product contained in a unit that is suitable for immediate installation and operation, as a power or heating unit.
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a group, combination, or series of related parts or elements to be accepted or rejected as a single unit.
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a complete program produced for the theater, television, etc., or a series of these, sold as a unit.
verb (used with object)
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packages,
present (3rd person singular)
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packaged,
past participle, past
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packaging
present participle
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to make or put into a package.
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to design and manufacture a package for (a product or series of related products).
They package their soaps in eye-catching wrappers.
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to group or combine (a series of related parts) into a single unit.
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to combine the various elements of (a tour, entertainment, etc.) for sale as a unit.
noun
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any wrapped or boxed object or group of objects
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a proposition, offer, or thing for sale in which separate items are offered together as a single or inclusive unit
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( as modifier )
a package holiday
a package deal
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a complete unit consisting of a number of component parts sold separately
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the act or process of packing or packaging
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computing a set of programs designed for a specific type of problem in statistics, production control, etc, making it unnecessary for a separate program to be written for each problem
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another word for pack 1
verb
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to wrap in or put into a package
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to design and produce a package for (retail goods)
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to group (separate items) together as a single unit
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to compile (complete books) for a publisher to market
Synonym Usage
Package, pack, packet, parcel refer to a bundle or to something fastened together. A package is a bundle of things packed and wrapped: a package from the drugstore. A pack is a large bundle or bale of things put or fastened together, usually wrapped up or in a bag, case, etc., to be carried by a person or a beast of burden: a peddler's pack. A packet, originally a package of letters or dispatches, is a small package or bundle: a packet of gems. A parcel is an object or objects wrapped up to form a single, small bundle: a parcel containing two dresses.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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subpackagenoun
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mispackageverb (used with object)
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mispackagedadjective
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packageableadjective
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unpackagedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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packagesimple
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packagessimple
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have packagedperfect
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has packagedperfect
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am packagingprogressive
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are packagingprogressive
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is packagingprogressive
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have been packagingperfect progressive
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has been packagingperfect progressive
Past
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packagedsimple
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had packagedperfect
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was packagingprogressive
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were packagingprogressive
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had been packagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of package
First recorded in 1605–15, package is from the Dutch word pakkage “baggage.” See pack 1, -age
Explanation
A package is a wrapped bundle or a container of something. If you order new socks online, they'll be delivered to your door in a package a few days later. A package might be wrapped in colorful wrapping paper, or it may simply be a container that holds an item or a collection of them, like a package of peppermints. To package is to enclose something in a box or other container: "You should package your brownies and sell them at the farmer's market!" Package stems either from the noun pack, or possibly from the Dutch pakkage, or "baggage."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The package mostly focused on Rams head coach Sean McVay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
The accounts state Sir Keir authorised the "special severance package" on 16 February.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
With the NBA stripping the Clippers of five future first-round picks, the package they are expected to receive when the Leonard trade is completed would have a substantial impact on their future roster-building options.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
It also led to delays in mail and package deliveries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Sam reached into his pocket and very quietly felt the package of gum.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Passes for Stagecoach, which start at $549 and go up past $4,000 for various VIP packages, will go on sale Friday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
This exceeds the on-time performance of regular mail and packages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
The new findings suggest that changes in chromatin, the material made of DNA and associated proteins that packages the genome inside cells, should also be considered part of the disease's molecular landscape.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
One person I met in Vlore told me he remembered aid packages being flown in from Italy full of long-expired pasta.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
David and I spent most of our days going to the prison, taking with us packages of food carefully prepared and wrapped by my mother.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
According to a new Consumer Reports investigation, there are apparently a range of dangerous substances in a range of popular packaged items.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
Remains from the World Trade Center have been packaged and sealed to help preserve DNA for testing in the years to come.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
This isn’t actually Dyson’s first move into consumer packaged goods: It makes hair-care products designed to be used with its hair dryers and hair wraps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Participants in the control group were given placebo versions of the antibiotics, omega-3, and ASA, packaged in capsules that looked like the active treatments.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
For a while, I worked at a canning factory where we packaged chiles and salsa.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
In August, Modesto-based packaging firm G3 Enterprises announced it would lay off 66 workers responsible for making wine screw caps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
On Thursday, the Chinese chip packaging and testing provider announced 6.5 billion yuan of private placement to fund its advanced packaging expansion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
One robot tidied cupboards and wiped surfaces, while others put orange juice and milk in the fridge, threw away empty packaging and loaded the dishwasher.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
But it has faced criticism from environmentalists for contributing to a culture of disposable furniture and excess packaging.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Empty coffee cups rested on every surface; take-out packaging littered the ground.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
