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

Thanks to the dictionary pages she uses for wallpaper, she has a large vocabulary and is prone to ruminating about her ultimate purpose.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

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

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

With nothing but a handheld camcorder, a man traverses endless corridors and rooms adorned with soft-chartreuse wallpaper.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

A movie poster showing a sheet of mono-yellow coloured wallpaper might typically wash over your head.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

The mantel clock gave off a satisfying tock-tick, tock-tick, tock-tick sound that made the wallpaper roses look like they might nod off to sleep.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles