wallpaper

American  

[wawl-pey-per] / ˈwɔlˌpeɪ pər /

noun

1. paper, usually with printed decorative patterns in color, for pasting on and covering the walls or ceilings of rooms, hallways, etc.

2. any fabric, foil, vinyl material, etc., used as a wall or ceiling covering.

3. Computers. a design or picture in the background of the primary display screen of a graphical user interface.

   Personalize your tablet by changing the wallpaper.

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verb (used with object)

wallpapers, present (3rd person singular) wallpapered, past participle, past wallpapering present participle

1. to put wallpaper on (a wall, ceiling, etc.) or to furnish (a room, house, etc.) with wallpaper.

wallpaper British  

/ ˈwɔːlˌpeɪpə /

noun

1. paper usually printed or embossed with designs for pasting onto walls and ceilings

2. 1. something pleasant but bland which serves as an unobtrusive background

   2. ( as modifier )

      wallpaper music

3. computing a graphics file that can be displayed in certain applications behind or around the main dialogue boxes, working display areas, etc, for decoration

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verb

1. to cover (a surface) with wallpaper

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• wallpapering
  present
• wallpapered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• wallpaper
  simple
• wallpapers
  simple
• have wallpapered
  perfect
• has wallpapered
  perfect
• am wallpapering
  progressive
• are wallpapering
  progressive
• is wallpapering
  progressive
• have been wallpapering
  perfect progressive
• has been wallpapering
  perfect progressive

Past

• wallpapered
  simple
• had wallpapered
  perfect
• was wallpapering
  progressive
• were wallpapering
  progressive
• had been wallpapering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will wallpaper
  simple
• will have wallpapered
  perfect
• will be wallpapering
  progressive
• will have been wallpapering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of wallpaper

First recorded in 1820–30; wall + paper

Example Sentences

After several thousand hours of filming, the wallpaper is changed to provide clients with variety.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Filled with eccentric decorative touches that mirrored Simmons’ vibrant public persona, the property features everything from staircase cherubs and boldly patterned wallpaper to curved French doors, terraced gardens, and a key-shaped swimming pool.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Hell isn’t fire and brimstone after all; it’s wallpaper, beige carpet and drop ceilings.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

Inside, the wallpaper is flaking, carpets are frayed and doors are broken.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Hallways and doors crafted from pages of books and bits of blueprints, pieces of wallpaper and fragments of letters.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern