paper
paper — noun
1. the thin, flat substance, usually pressed from wood pulp, that you can write on,
the thin, flat substance, usually pressed from wood pulp, that you can write on, print images onto, or sketch over; it is also chosen to wrap or protect items.
Maya tore a clean sheet of paper from her notebook.
collocation: a sheet / piece of paper
The bakery wraps every loaf of bread in brown paper.
collocation: wrap [object] in paper
Recycling old paper saves a lot of trees each year.
Carlos folded the bright red paper into a small origami crane.
The printer ran out of paper halfway through Lina's essay.
uncountable: 'out of paper'
- a sheet of paper
- a piece of paper
- blank paper
- recycled paper
- wrap in paper
Grammar Patterns
a sheet/piece of paper
on paper
made of paper
Usage Note
Uncountable in this sense. To count, use 'a sheet/piece of paper' or 'two pieces of paper', not 'two papers' (which means newspapers or academic articles — see senses 2 and 5).
Common Mistakes
2. a printed publication, usually issued each day or week, that reports the latest
a printed publication, usually issued each day or week, that reports the latest news together with comment, sport, and adverts.
Grandpa reads the morning paper at the kitchen table every day.
collocation: the morning / evening paper
There was a long article about the typhoon in yesterday's paper.
fixed phrase: in the paper
Marcus delivers the local paper to forty houses before school.
Most national papers in Taiwan now publish online as well.
plural: papers = newspapers
Aunt Rosa keeps Sunday's paper to do the crossword later.
- the morning paper
- today's paper
- in the paper
- a national paper
- a local paper
Grammar Patterns
the [name] paper
today's paper
in the paper
Usage Note
Often shortened from 'newspaper'. Common with 'the' + day/place: 'the Saturday paper', 'the Taipei paper'. The plural 'papers' usually means several newspapers, not the material.
Common Mistakes
3. (usually plural) the official documents, such as a passport or permit, that prov
(usually plural) the official documents, such as a passport or permit, that prove who someone is or what they are allowed to do.
The border guard asked Carlos to show his papers at the checkpoint.
collocation: show / produce one's papers
Without the right papers, refugees cannot legally work in the country.
plural-only sense
Lina keeps her adoption papers in the small safe upstairs.
The officer waved Mr. Chen through after checking his papers carefully.
Travellers without papers were turned back at the airport gate.
- show your papers
- check someone's papers
- travel papers
- identity papers
- without papers
- documents
broader term; covers papers and digital records
- credentials
more formal; often professional or academic proof
- ID
informal; usually a single card such as a driver's licence
Grammar Patterns
one's papers
ask to see [someone's] papers
Usage Note
Almost always plural in this sense. Distinguish from sense 7 (loose pieces of writing): 'papers' here means specifically identity or permission documents, often demanded by police or officials.
Common Mistakes
4. a test on a single subject, made up of questions printed on a sheet that student
a test on a single subject, made up of questions printed on a sheet that students answer within a fixed time.
Lina found this year's chemistry paper much harder than last year's.
the [subject] paper
Students must finish the maths paper in ninety minutes.
Mr. Patel will mark all forty history papers by Friday afternoon.
plural: marking exam scripts
Marcus left the room early after handing in his English paper.
collocation: hand in a paper
The first paper of the entrance exam tests reading skills.
- sit a paper
- take a paper
- mark a paper
- exam paper
- the question paper
- exam
general word for any kind of test
- test
informal and broad; can be oral or written
- examination
formal full word for an exam
Grammar Patterns
take / sit a paper
the [subject] paper
Usage Note
Mainly British. In American English, 'exam' or 'test' is more common; 'paper' more often means an essay (sense 6). 'Sit a paper' is BrE; AmE prefers 'take a test'.
Common Mistakes
5. a written study by an expert that presents new findings or arguments on one topi
a written study by an expert that presents new findings or arguments on one topic, normally appearing in a journal or delivered at a conference.
Dr. Tanaka published a paper on coral reefs in Nature last month.
publish a paper on [topic]
Professor Kim will present her latest paper at the Tokyo physics conference.
present a paper at [event]
Three of his recent papers have been cited over a thousand times.
The journal asked two specialists to review the paper before publication.
collocation: peer-review a paper
Professor Lee co-authored a paper with his former PhD student.
- publish a paper
- present a paper
- a paper on
- academic paper
- research paper
Grammar Patterns
a paper on [topic]
publish / present a paper
Usage Note
Used for serious published research, not student essays (compare sense 6). Subject is usually a researcher, professor, or institution. Common verbs: publish, present, submit, review, cite.
Common Mistakes
6. a short written assignment that a student produces about one topic for a class o
a short written assignment that a student produces about one topic for a class or course.
Maya is writing a paper on the Civil War for history class.
write a paper on [topic]
The professor wants every paper handed in before Friday at noon.
Carlos stayed up late to finish his term paper on solar energy.
collocation: term paper
Lina got an A on her English paper about coming-of-age novels.
Each student must write a five-page paper to pass the course.
- write a paper
- term paper
- hand in a paper
- a five-page paper
- a research paper
- essay
the most common word for school writing
- assignment
broader; can include problem sets, not just writing
- report
often based on facts or experiments rather than argument
Grammar Patterns
write a paper on [topic]
a [subject] paper
Usage Note
Mainly American English. Distinguish from sense 5: this one is student work for a course; sense 5 is expert research. Common phrases: 'term paper', 'research paper' (in the school-assignment sense).
Common Mistakes
7. (plural) the various sheets carrying writing or print that a person owns or work
(plural) the various sheets carrying writing or print that a person owns or works with, such as letters, notes, reports, or personal records.
After Grandpa died, we sorted through boxes of his old papers.
sort / go through someone's papers
Sarah keeps all her tax papers in a thick green folder.
The lawyer spread the papers across the long table to compare them.
Marcus found his birth certificate buried under piles of office papers.
Please file these papers in the cabinet by the window.
verb collocation: file papers
- go through someone's papers
- sort papers
- file papers
- tax papers
- personal papers
Grammar Patterns
someone's papers
go through the papers
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (identity documents): sense 7 is broader, covering any personal or work-related documents. Often pre-modified: 'tax papers', 'court papers', 'office papers', 'family papers'.
Common Mistakes
paper over
phrasal verbto hide a problem or disagreement quickly so that it looks solved, without dealing with the real cause.
The two parties papered over their differences before the press conference.
Don't try to paper over the cracks in the project; fix them properly.
look good on paper
idiomto appear successful or attractive when only the written facts are considered, even if reality may not match.
The marketing plan looks great on paper, but no one believes it will actually work.
Carlos's CV looks good on paper, yet his interviews never go well.
(of a contract, promise, or document) so unreliable or unenforceable that it has no real value.
The minister's promise turned out to be not worth the paper it was written on.
Without both signatures, this contract isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
a paper trail
idioma sequence of written or printed records that shows step by step what someone has done.
Detective Lin followed the paper trail back to the company's offshore account.
Always keep receipts so there is a clear paper trail for the tax office.
put pen to paper
idiomto start writing something, especially something formal such as a letter, contract, or book.
Maya put pen to paper and finally began the novel she had planned for years.
Both parties put pen to paper at the lawyer's office on Tuesday morning.
on paper
idiomjudged by what is written or by the official figures alone, rather than by real performance.
On paper, our team should win, but the rival players are in better form.
On paper, the budget balances, yet the city is short of cash every month.
Something that has no real value or authority, especially a written agreement that will not be respected.
The contract was not worth the paper it was printed on.
Maya realized the promise was not worth the paper it was written on.
paper — verb
1. to put decorative paper onto the inside walls of a room so that they are fully c
to put decorative paper onto the inside walls of a room so that they are fully covered.
Maya and her husband papered the nursery in soft yellow stripes.
paper [room] in / with [pattern]
It took Carlos a whole weekend to paper the small bathroom.
We plan to paper the dining room before Grandma visits next month.
The decorator papered all four walls with a pale floral pattern.
paper [walls] with [pattern]
Lina decided to paint the kitchen instead of papering it again.
contrast: paint vs paper
- paper a wall
- paper a room
- paper the bedroom
- paper with stripes
- paper in a floral pattern
- strip
to remove old wallpaper from a wall
Grammar Patterns
paper a wall / room
paper [place] with [pattern]
Usage Note
Always transitive in this sense; takes a room or wall as object. Typically followed by 'with' or 'in' plus the pattern or colour. Distinguish from 'paint': you 'paint' walls with colour, but 'paper' them with sheets of pattern.
Common Mistakes
paper — adjective
1. produced from sheets of paper, card, or papier-mâché rather than from cloth, pla
produced from sheets of paper, card, or papier-mâché rather than from cloth, plastic, or metal.
The children wore tall paper hats at Maya's birthday party.
attributive: paper + [noun]
Carlos handed each guest a paper cup of fresh lemonade.
The cafe now uses paper straws instead of plastic ones.
common collocation: paper straws / cups / bags
Lina folded a small paper boat and floated it on the pond.
The shop wraps every gift in colourful paper bags free of charge.
- paper cup
- paper bag
- paper plate
- paper hat
- paper straw
- paperboard
thicker; used for packaging boxes
- cardboard
much stiffer than ordinary paper
Grammar Patterns
paper + [noun]
Usage Note
Used directly before a noun (attributive). Cannot stand after a linking verb in this sense — say 'a paper cup' but not 'this cup is paper' (use 'made of paper' instead).
Common Mistakes
2. having a texture, thinness, or feel that reminds you of paper, often used in com
having a texture, thinness, or feel that reminds you of paper, often used in compounds such as 'paper-thin'.
Grandma's hands felt paper-thin and dry against Maya's cheek.
compound: paper-thin
The chef sliced the carrots into paper-thin rounds for the salad.
compound: paper-thin
After the long fever, Lina's skin looked pale and paper-dry.
Carlos used a paper-thin sheet of gold leaf on the picture frame.
The walls of this old wooden house feel almost paper-thin in winter.
figurative: paper-thin walls = very thin
- paper-thin
- paper-thin walls
- paper-thin skin
- paper-thin slice
- papery
the standalone adjective form; same general meaning
- wafer-thin
even thinner; often used for food slices
- thick
the basic opposite of paper-thin
Grammar Patterns
paper-thin
paper + [thin/dry/white]
Usage Note
Most often appears in the compound 'paper-thin'. Suggests something is thin, dry, or fragile in a paper-like way; rarely stands alone before a noun.
3. involving routine office tasks such as filling forms, filing, and writing report
involving routine office tasks such as filling forms, filing, and writing reports rather than active or practical work.
After his accident, Marcus moved to a quiet paper job at headquarters.
paper + [job / work]
Most of her morning is spent on dull paper work in the back office.
Detective Chen hated the paper side of police work the most.
The new manager promised to cut the team's paper duties in half.
Many young doctors complain about the heavy paper load on their shifts.
- paper work
- paper job
- paper duties
- paper load
- clerical
more formal; standard term for office paperwork roles
- administrative
broader; covers planning and management duties too
- practical
involving hands-on work in the field, not at a desk
Grammar Patterns
paper + [job/work/role]
Usage Note
Always before a noun (attributive). Typical nouns: work, job, duties, side, load. Often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting boring or excessive desk tasks.
4. existing only in writing or on paper, with no real strength, value, or effect in
existing only in writing or on paper, with no real strength, value, or effect in practice.
The hedge fund's twenty percent paper profit vanished as soon as the markets fell.
collocation: paper profit / loss
The rebel group is really just a paper army, with no trained soldiers behind it.
collocation: paper army / paper tiger
Without funding, the new law remains a paper promise to voters.
Carlos called his rival a paper champion who had never beaten anyone strong.
Investors warned that the company's paper value far exceeded its real cash.
- paper profit
- paper loss
- paper tiger
- paper army
- paper promise
- nominal
formal; existing in name only
- theoretical
existing only in idea, not in practice
Grammar Patterns
paper + [profit/army/promise/champion]
Usage Note
Always before a noun. Frequent collocations: paper profit, paper loss, paper tiger, paper army, paper promise. Closely related to the idiom 'on paper' (sense-7-area), but here functions as a flat modifier.
Common Mistakes
5. (of a theatre audience) made up mostly of people who got in with free tickets ra
(of a theatre audience) made up mostly of people who got in with free tickets rather than paying customers.
The producer admitted that opening night was largely a paper house.
collocation: a paper house
Critics noticed that the lively paper audience laughed at every joke.
collocation: a paper audience
Even with a paper crowd, the cast played the show with full energy.
Director Watanabe worried that the strong paper attendance hid weak ticket sales.
collocation: paper attendance
- a paper house
- a paper audience
- paper the seats
- comp
shorthand for 'complimentary'; theatre slang for free tickets
- paying
describes audiences who bought their tickets
Grammar Patterns
paper + [audience/house/crowd]
Usage Note
Theatre jargon, mostly used by producers, agents, and reviewers. Always before nouns like 'house', 'audience', or 'crowd'. Implies that the seats are filled but not paid for.
6. (of a surface, especially leather or fabric) treated until it has the crisp, eve
(of a surface, especially leather or fabric) treated until it has the crisp, even smoothness of paper.
The luxury wallets came in a soft, paper finish that felt expensive.
collocation: paper finish
Master craftsmen polish each leather strap to a fine paper smoothness.
The factory finishes its silk in a delicate paper texture.
Lina liked the paper finish on the new notebook cover best.
- paper finish
- paper smoothness
- paper texture
- smooth
everyday word; not specific to paper-like surfaces
- calendered
technical; pressed between rollers to get a smooth surface
- rough
the everyday opposite of a smooth, paper-like finish
Grammar Patterns
paper + [finish]
Usage Note
Specialist term in leather, paper, and textile manufacturing. Refers to a finish that mimics the crisp, even surface of fine paper.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four words all describe thin, flat sheet material, but they differ in thickness, use, and feel. 'Paper' is the everyday, neutral term for the thin material that most people write, draw, or print on; it bends easily and tears without much effort. 'Card' is heavier and stiffer than ordinary paper, the kind used for greeting cards, business cards, or cereal boxes — you can score and fold it, but it does not crumple like paper. 'Cardboard' is thicker still, with a corrugated or solid layer, and is mostly used for shipping boxes and packaging rather than for writing on. 'Parchment', historically made from animal skin, today usually means a high-quality, slightly cream-coloured paper used for certificates, formal letters, or cooking. So Maya might jot a note on a sheet of paper, post it inside a card, ship a parcel in a cardboard box, and have her diploma printed on parchment.
Common collocations
Etymology
English 'paper' came in around the 14th century from Anglo-French 'papir', which traced back through Latin 'papyrus' to Greek 'pápyros', the name of the tall reed plant used by the ancient Egyptians to make their writing sheets. The Egyptian product was technically not what we call paper today — true paper, made from pulped fibres, was invented in China around 105 CE and only reached Europe much later via the Arab world. The word, however, kept the older Egyptian-Greek-Latin name even after the technology changed.