papers
papers — verb
- paperspresent simple I / you / we / they
- paperses3rd person singular
- papersing-ing form
- papersedpast simple
1. to record thoughts, ideas, or information on paper so that they can be read, sha
to record thoughts, ideas, or information on paper so that they can be read, shared, or kept as a record.
Keiko papered her dreams in a small cloth-bound diary every morning before breakfast.
literary use: paper + dreams/thoughts in a diary
The old fisherman had papered his life story across dozens of notebooks over sixty years.
formal/literary: paper + life story / memories
Omar papered his field observations in a waterproof notebook during the rainforest expedition.
For decades, the novelist papered her characters' lives into stories spanning five generations.
- write down
the everyday alternative, far more frequent
- record
broader — can be audio, video, or digital; paper is specific to writing
文法句型
paper + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is largely literary or formal; in everyday English, write down or put in writing is far more common.
2. to cover something with paper, for example when wrapping a gift or protecting an
to cover something with paper, for example when wrapping a gift or protecting an object.
Antonia carefully papered each glass before placing it in the moving box.
paper + object for protection
Kofi papered the books he planned to give as birthday presents.
Sivan papered the leftover sandwiches and put them in her bag.
The butcher papered the fish before handing it to the customer.
文法句型
paper + noun phrase
用法筆記
Wrap in paper is much more common in modern speech; paper as a verb in this sense is still understood but less frequent.
3. to put wallpaper onto a wall, ceiling, or room as decoration or to cover a surfa
to put wallpaper onto a wall, ceiling, or room as decoration or to cover a surface.
Nadia and her brother papered the living room in a soft grey pattern.
paper + room (British)
Stephanie decided to paper the hallway with a bright floral design.
Nora papered the ceiling of her bedroom, which took much longer than she expected.
The children's bedroom was papered with a dinosaur-themed wallpaper.
- wallpaper
synonymous; more common in American English
- hang wallpaper
the descriptive phrase, preferred in formal contexts
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (wall / room / ceiling)
用法筆記
In American English, wallpaper or put up wallpaper is more common. Paper as a verb for this sense is primarily British.
4. to make a theatre, concert hall, or other venue look full by giving away free ti
to make a theatre, concert hall, or other venue look full by giving away free tickets to people.
Jiwoo papered the small theatre so the actors would not perform to empty seats.
paper + venue (informal, theatre slang)
The concert was papered — Ayesha noticed that half the audience had free passes.
passive: was papered
Jack's band papered the club with two-for-one tickets for their first show.
The cinema was fully papered for the premiere of the local film.
- give away tickets
the descriptive phrase; paper is a slang shorthand
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (venue)
用法筆記
Common in the theatre and live-music industry. The object is always a venue, never a person.
5. to put up many posters, advertisements, or flyers in different places across an
to put up many posters, advertisements, or flyers in different places across an area.
Sofie papered the neighbourhood with flyers for her missing cat within two hours.
paper an area with flyers (advertising)
The candidate's team papered every bus stop and lamp post with election posters.
A local shop papered the empty walls near the station with cafe ads.
Volunteers papered the campus notice boards with signs for the language exchange.
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (area / wall / neighbourhood)
用法筆記
Often used with with to specify what is being put up: paper an area with posters / flyers / handbills.
papers — noun
1. the thin material made from plant fibres that people regularly use for writing,
the thin material made from plant fibres that people regularly use for writing, printing, drawing, or wrapping things.
Mira recycled all the old papers from her desk drawer.
The art teacher handed out sheets of white paper for the drawing class.
sheet of paper — countable unit for the material
Vikram wrote his phone number on a small piece of paper.
The shop put my new shirt into a bag made of brown paper.
- stationery
refers to writing materials including paper, envelopes, and cards; more specific to office or school supplies
- notepaper
refers specifically to paper intended for letter-writing
文法句型
a piece of paper
sheet of paper
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when referring to the material itself. Use 'a piece of paper' or 'a sheet of paper' for a single unit.
2. a sheet or set of sheets carrying written or printed information that serves as
a sheet or set of sheets carrying written or printed information that serves as a record, form, or proof of something.
Chidi lost the important papers for his visa application last week.
papers + for + purpose
Xiu signed all the contract papers after reading each page carefully.
Hiroshi brought all the relevant papers to the lawyer's office before the court date.
Yara kept the insurance papers in a folder inside her desk drawer.
文法句型
papers + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (papers) when referring to a collection of documents relating to a particular matter.
常見錯誤
3. official documents that establish a person's legal identity, status, or rights,
official documents that establish a person's legal identity, status, or rights, such as a passport, birth certificate, or court filing.
The border officer asked to see Yara's identity papers before letting her through.
identity papers — common collocation for ID documents
Rafael keeps his identity papers in a locked folder at home for safekeeping.
The immigration office sent Sari the papers she needs to renew her work permit.
The adoption agency asked the family to submit all their legal papers by Friday.
- identification
narrower; specifically establishes identity rather than covering all legal documents
- credentials
formal; emphasises proof of qualifications or authority
文法句型
identity papers
legal papers
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 specifically refers to documents of legal or official standing (identity, status, court proceedings), not just any piece of writing.
4. a written piece of work, usually for a university course or for publication in a
a written piece of work, usually for a university course or for publication in a journal, that explores a topic or presents research findings.
Professor Devika published a research paper on climate change in a science journal.
paper on + topic
Isabela stayed up late to finish her history paper for Professor Chen's class.
paper + for + class
Ezra presented his medical paper at the hospital conference last Friday morning.
Justin wrote a ten-page paper about ancient Roman architecture for his history course.
文法句型
paper + on/about + topic
paper + for + class
5. a set of printed pages, usually published daily or weekly, containing news stori
a set of printed pages, usually published daily or weekly, containing news stories, articles, advertisements, and opinion pieces.
Justin reads the morning paper while drinking his coffee before work.
Yara found a job advertisement in the local paper last Tuesday evening.
the local paper — common phrase
Chidi reads the business section of the Sunday paper every week.
The story about the flood was on the front page of every major paper.
文法句型
a paper
the local paper
the morning paper
用法筆記
In everyday speech, 'paper' is more common than 'newspaper'. 'The paper' often refers to a specific regular publication the speaker reads.
6. a bag, packet, or covering made of paper that holds or protects something, espec
a bag, packet, or covering made of paper that holds or protects something, especially food or goods bought from a shop.
The fish and chips came in a brown paper bag with salt on top.
Vikram unwrapped his sandwich from the wax paper his mother had used.
wax paper — a type of paper wrapper for food
The bakery put each cookie into a small white paper bag for the customer.
The children made puppets from brown paper bags and coloured markers.
文法句型
paper bag
paper wrapper
用法筆記
Usually used in compound form: 'paper bag', 'paper cup', 'paper towel'. Less commonly used alone as 'a paper' to mean a wrapper — context makes the meaning clear.
7. thick decorative paper printed with patterns or designs, used to cover and decor
thick decorative paper printed with patterns or designs, used to cover and decorate the inside walls of buildings, especially rooms in a house
Eve chose a floral wallpaper for her hallway to match the antique sideboard.
collocation: floral wallpaper
Peeling off the old wallpaper took Zayd and his cousin an entire Saturday morning.
A colourful wallpaper covered in rockets and planets decorated the children's bedroom.
Feng hung the striped wallpaper in the dining room while his sister painted the kitchen.
- wall covering
a broader term that includes fabric or vinyl coverings, not just paper
文法句型
a [pattern] paper
[colour/pattern] wallpaper
用法筆記
Also used in the shorter form 'paper' in decorating contexts: 'Would you like a stripe or a floral paper for the living room?'
8. printed tickets or passes that allow a person to enter a theatre, concert, festi
printed tickets or passes that allow a person to enter a theatre, concert, festival, or other event, often without paying or at no cost
Heather got papers for the opening night from her friend who works at the theatre.
The director handed out papers to every member of the stage crew before the preview.
collocation: hand out papers (meaning free passes)
With the right papers, you can enter the festival without queuing for tickets.
Ari gave his papers to the usher and found a seat near the balcony.
- passes
more common in modern English; 'papers' sounds slightly dated or theatrically specific
- complimentary tickets
formal, specifies that the tickets are free
文法句型
[possessive] papers
have/get papers for [event]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (official identity documents): this sense refers specifically to admission passes for entertainment events and is more informal. Usually found in the plural.
常見錯誤
9. a book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard cardboard cover, usually s
a book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard cardboard cover, usually smaller and cheaper than a hardcover edition
Mira picked up a cheap paper at the airport bookshop to read on the flight.
Tendai prefers papers over hardcovers because they are much lighter in his bag.
The shop sells both new releases and second-hand papers at very low prices.
Camila found a well-known novel in paper for half the price of the hardcover version.
文法句型
a [adjective] paper
[number] papers
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, 'paperback' is the usual term. This sense is typically found in the singular ('a paper') or plural ('papers') in informal spoken British English.
10. financial documents such as promissory notes, bills of exchange, or drafts that
financial documents such as promissory notes, bills of exchange, or drafts that represent a short-term promise to pay a fixed amount of money and can be bought and sold in money markets
The manufacturer raised three million dollars by issuing commercial paper to investors.
register: 'commercial paper' in finance
Rodrigo's job at the bank involves checking the credit ratings on short-term paper before purchase.
collocation: short-term paper
The finance officer checked the promissory notes before filing the papers with the lender.
The exporter used trade paper to guarantee payment before shipping the goods overseas.
- promissory note
a specific type of paper that contains a written promise to pay a sum on a certain date
- negotiable instrument
a broader legal term covering checks, drafts, notes, and certificates of deposit
文法句型
commercial paper
short-term paper
[institution] issues paper
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the compound 'commercial paper' rather than as a standalone noun. In financial contexts, 'paper' is uncountable (e.g. 'the company issues paper to raise short-term funds').
papers — adjective
- paperspositive
- more paperscomparative
- most paperssuperlative
1. made from the thin material that we use for writing, printing, or wrapping — for
made from the thin material that we use for writing, printing, or wrapping — for example, a paper bag, a paper cup, or a paper towel.
Imran packed his lunch in a paper bag instead of a plastic one.
paper + noun (bag, cup, towel, plate)
The waiter brought the drinks in small paper cups with a straw.
After the barbecue, Amani threw the paper plates into the bin.
The children made a toy boat out of a paper napkin and a stick.
- cardboard
thicker and stiffer than paper, used for boxes, not cups or bags
- papier-mâché
a mixture of paper and glue that hardens when dry, used for crafts
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense is used before a noun (a paper cup, paper money). It is not used predicatively (*this cup is paper).
常見錯誤
2. so thin, light, or delicate that it looks or feels like paper — for example, pap
so thin, light, or delicate that it looks or feels like paper — for example, papery skin or paper-thin slices of food.
The old woman's skin had become thin and papery after years in the sun.
papery skin / paper-thin = very thin, fragile
Caleb sliced the cured meat into paper-thin pieces for the appetiser.
The dried flower petals felt light and papery between Emily's fingers.
The insect's wings were paper-thin, and sunlight shone right through them.
3. involving clerical work, forms, documents, or written communication rather than
involving clerical work, forms, documents, or written communication rather than physical labour — for example, a paper job, paper qualifications, or paper records.
Sofia found a paper job at an insurance company that required no heavy lifting.
paper job / paper qualifications — office work vs physical work
The hospital is moving from paper records to a digital system for patient data.
Even though he had plenty of paper qualifications, he lacked hands-on experience.
Mei-Lin's role was mostly paper-based, with little contact with clients.
- clerical
more specific to routine office tasks
- administrative
broader, including management and decision-making
- practical
involving hands-on work, not just documents
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only. This sense contrasts with 'practical' or 'hands-on' work. 'Paper qualifications' implies formal certificates rather than real ability.
4. existing in writing or in theory but not having real power, value, or effect — f
existing in writing or in theory but not having real power, value, or effect — for example, a paper promise, a paper tiger, or paper profits.
The agreement was nothing more than a paper promise with no real enforcement.
paper promise / paper tiger — exists only on paper
The company showed large paper profits, but the cash was stuck in unpaid invoices.
Critics called the new law a paper tiger because it had no means of punishment.
The manifesto offered only paper reforms that no one planned to carry out.
- theoretical
neutral; based on theory, may or may not work in practice
- nominal
in name only, often used for titles or positions without real authority
- hollow
emphasises emptiness or lack of substance
- real
having actual existence or effect
- practical
concerned with actual use, not just theory
- substantial
of real worth, value, or importance
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Often negative in tone — implies something looks impressive on paper but is ineffective or worthless in reality. Common in fixed phrases like 'paper tiger', 'paper promise'.
5. allowing someone to enter a theatre, concert, or event without paying because th
allowing someone to enter a theatre, concert, or event without paying because they have a free pass, often a critic or industry guest.
The reviewer used a paper ticket to enter the show for free.
paper ticket / paper pass = free admission for professionals
Most of the audience at the preview were paper guests.
João and his classmates got into the film festival on paper invitations.
The usher checked the paper passes at the door and waved everyone inside.
- complimentary
given free of charge, general term
- paid
requiring payment for entry
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
This sense is very narrow — mostly used in US theatre and entertainment contexts. 'Paper the house' (verb sense) is more common than the adjective sense.
6. having a smooth, crisp surface that feels like high-quality paper — used especia
having a smooth, crisp surface that feels like high-quality paper — used especially to describe the finish of printed materials or certain fabrics.
The wedding invitations were printed on card stock with a paper finish.
paper finish = smooth, crisp surface
Defne chose a paper-textured wallpaper for the study because it felt warm and elegant.
The artist used a paper-surface board for her charcoal sketches.
Camila preferred the paper texture of the photo paper over the glossy finish.
- glossy
shiny finish, the opposite of the crisp matte surface of paper
文法句型
paper + noun