wrap
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to enclose in something wound or folded about (often followed byup ).
She wrapped her head in a scarf.
-
to enclose and make fast (an article, bundle, etc.) within a covering of paper or the like (often followed byup ).
He wrapped the package up in brown paper.
-
to wind, fold, or bind (something) about as a covering.
-
to protect with coverings, outer garments, etc. (usually followed byup ).
-
to cover (fingernails) with a sheer silk or linen fabric, as to repair or strengthen them.
-
to surround, envelop, shroud, or hide.
-
to fold or roll up.
-
Movies, Television. to finish the filming of (a motion picture).
verb (used without object)
-
to wrap oneself (usually followed byup ).
-
to become wrapped, enclosed, packaged, or folded (usually followed byup ).
This hat wraps up into a pocket-size square—perfect for hiking and camping.
-
Movies, Television. to complete the filming of a motion picture.
We hope to wrap in time for Christmas.
noun
-
something to be wrapped about the person, especially in addition to the usual indoor clothing, such as a shawl.
an evening wrap.
-
a beauty treatment in which a part or all of the body is covered with cream, lotion, herbs, or the like and then wrapped snugly with cloth.
-
a sheer silk or linen fabric glued to the fingernails to repair or strengthen them.
-
a flatbread wrapped around a filling and eaten as a sandwich.
-
Movies, Television.
-
the completion of photography on a film or an individual scene.
-
the termination of a working day during the shooting of a film.
-
adjective
verb phrase
idioms
-
wrapped up in,
-
intensely absorbed in.
wrapped up in one's work.
-
involved in; bound up with.
Peace is wrapped up in willingness to compromise.
-
-
under wraps, secret.
The army wants this research project kept under wraps.
verb
-
to fold or wind (paper, cloth, etc) around (a person or thing) so as to cover
-
(often foll by up) to fold paper, etc, around to fasten securely
-
to surround or conceal by surrounding
-
to enclose, immerse, or absorb
wrapped in sorrow
-
to fold, wind, or roll up
-
(intr; often foll by about, around, etc) to be or become wound or extended
-
to complete the filming of (a motion picture or television programme)
-
Also called: rap. informal (often foll by up) to praise (someone)
noun
-
a garment worn wrapped around the body, esp the shoulders, such as a shawl or cloak
-
short for wrapround
-
a type of sandwich consisting of a tortilla wrapped round a filling
-
wrapping or a wrapper
-
slang a small package of an illegal drug in powder form
a wrap of heroin
-
Also called: rap. informal a commendation
-
-
the end of a working day during the filming of a motion picture or television programme
-
the completion of filming of a motion picture or television programme
-
-
to keep secret
-
to reveal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
prewrapnoun
-
underwrapnoun
-
rewrapverb
-
prewrapverb (used with object)
-
underwrapverb (used with object)
-
interwrapverb (used without object)
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
wrapsimple
-
wrapssimple
-
have wrappedperfect
-
have wraptperfect
-
has wrappedperfect
-
has wraptperfect
-
am wrappingprogressive
-
are wrappingprogressive
-
is wrappingprogressive
-
have been wrappingperfect progressive
-
has been wrappingperfect progressive
Past
-
wrappedsimple
-
wraptsimple
-
had wrappedperfect
-
had wraptperfect
-
was wrappingprogressive
-
were wrappingprogressive
-
had been wrappingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of wrap
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English wrappen, of obscure origin; compare dialectal Danish vravle to wind
Explanation
To wrap something is to enclose it, like when you wrap holiday presents in glittery paper. When you're done with the presents, you can wrap yourself in a cozy blanket while you drink hot chocolate. Wrap also has a number of noun meanings. There's the wrap you wear, which is similar to a cloak or a shawl. There's also the plastic wrap you use to cover a bowl of leftovers, and the wrap you make when you fold a tortilla around sandwich fillings. The verb wrap came first, from a root meaning "to turn or wind." To wrap something up also means to end it, so let's wrap up this blurb by saying, "That's a wrap!" — it's what movie directors since the 1920s have been saying when filming is finished.
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:
At some point, it was torn into strips and used to wrap a mummy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
If there is a will, he will likely have named an executor to wrap up his affairs, pay any remaining debts and ensure his wishes are upheld.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
But the litigation poses a major headache for David Ellison, who wants to wrap up the deal by September to avoid making higher payouts to Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Then, the males wriggle up and twist and wrap around them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Mrs. Branson was waving her arms in the air, a snot-oozing Sabrina wriggling in a baby wrap against her chest.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Still, the streaming giant seems to be focusing mainly on the edges of production -- from visualizing a concept early on to color-grading footage after filming wraps.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The homebuilder said it now expects revenue of $32.5 billion to $33 billion for the full fiscal year, which wraps up at the end of September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Will Robinson stands up and wraps his arms around Sandoval, seemingly to get him to back away from Victoria Robinson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
That’s because new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is likely to keep any insight about how close the Fed is to tightening its monetary policy under wraps, experts say.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Jack wraps an arm around me, hugging me to his side.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Darline Graham, who wrapped her first full week on the job Friday, has already done so twice over.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Trade Representative relied on its investigation into forced labor that wrapped up last month and that was conducted through Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
The portrait was brought to the programme's team wrapped in a sleeping bag, and is now thought to be worth more than £100,000.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Germany's foreign minister wrapped up a two-day visit to Nigeria Wednesday as Berlin moves to deepen business opportunities across Africa amid a more isolationist United States and geo-political pressure from Russia and China.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
I watched him wedge himself in, his feet up, his hands wrapped in a cloth holding the rope.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
While inland China was wrapt in its customary slumber, the coast provinces, from Kwangtung to Chihli, effervesced in a variety of bubbles.
From Time Magazine Archive
In winter, wrapt in a blanket, he studied till midnight, and in summer, at dawn, resorted to a cemetery near by, where he found the quiet he desired.
From Famous American Statesmen by Bolton, Sarah Knowles
And though like a mourner that sits by a tomb, I am wrapt in a mantle of care; Yet the grief of my bosom—oh! call it not gloom— Is not the black grief of despair.
From The Genius of Scotland or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion by Turnbull, Robert
For some time after Mr. Rutherford had done speaking, he sat wrapt in silent thought; his emotion too strong to dare trust the utterance of a single expression.
From I've Been Thinking; or, the Secret of Success by Roe, Azel Stevens
The reason why this African cardamum received either the name of grains of Paradise or of Meleguetta pepper is, like most African things, wrapt in mystery to a certain extent.
From West African studies by Kingsley, Mary Henrietta
"Everybody is still wrapping their head around it," said Mike Mosallam, COO of production company Shadowbox Studios, in an interview with Variety as recently 2025.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The problem was the launch of the z17 mainframe program, which the company expected to be wrapping up during the second quarter.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
The beginnings of “Stuart” trace back to when “Big Bang Theory” was wrapping up its run and Lorre casually asked Sussman to keep him posted on what he was doing next, but didn’t elaborate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
The money exchange closure will affect 30 shops while the gift wrapping services closure will affect 25 shops.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Issue #2: As it turns out, this whole egg drop thing is more than just wrapping up an egg in pillows.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
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.
