Skip to main content
to gift-wrap

to gift-wrap

3 2.2
Wrap a present in pretty paper and add a ribbon or bow to make it look nice
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡɪft ræp/
translation icon : envolver en papel de regalo
  • Could you gift-wrap that beautiful scarf for me, please?

Examples

  • So, do we gift wrap this sucker for you, or do you walk away empty-handed?

  • I'll gift wrap that for you.

  • Do you think you could gift-wrap it for me, please?

  • Can you gift-wrap it? - It's a birthday present.

  • Could you gift-wrap that for me please?

  • And the lady said, in that case, she’d gift wrap it for free.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Let's gift-wrap it.

  • You could even gift-wrap the surprises (in several layers!) to add to the excitement.

    Blog text (31)
  • Can you gift-wrap this present in shiny paper and add a bow?

  • I would like to gift-wrap the books before giving them as a gift.

Synonyms

to do up
vsto gift-wrap
  • UK
10 3.7

Wrap and decorate something like a present to make it look attractive

focuses specifically on covering items for giving rather than any decoration
to wrap a gift
vsto gift-wrap
1 1.0

To cover a gift with pretty paper and ribbon before giving it

often includes adding ribbons or bows to make it attractive

Antonyms

15 1.0

To take off paper or cloth that covers a gift

How Decorative

to embellish
10 6.3
to adorn
45 4.9
to decorate
226 1.9
to gift-wrap
3 2.2
to wrap
729 1.0

Surface Forms

gift-wrap infinitive
gift-wrapped past participle
gift-wrapping present participle
gift-wraps third person singular

Morphology

gift-wrap = gift + wrap (transparent) = gift + wrap

The meaning is a direct combination of 'gift' + 'wrap' (to wrap a gift), which is immediately clear to learners.

Etymology

Gift-wrap is made of two simple words: gift meaning 'present' and wrap meaning 'to cover'. So to gift-wrap something is to 'cover a present' with paper and ribbons to make it look nice.