WALL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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wall

1 of 3

noun

ˈwȯl plural walls Synonyms of wall 1 a : a high thick masonry structure forming a long rampart or an enclosure chiefly for defense often used in plural b : a masonry fence around a garden, park, or estate c : a structure that serves to hold back pressure (as of water or sliding earth) 2 : one of the sides of a room or building connecting floor and ceiling or foundation and roof 3 : the side of a footpath next to buildings 4 : an extreme or desperate position or a state of defeat, failure, or ruin The surrounded troops had their backs against the wall . 5 : a material layer enclosing space the wall of a container heart walls 6 : something resembling a wall (as in appearance, function, or effect) especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense a wall of reserve tariff wall wall-like ˈwȯl-ˌlīk adjective

wall

2 of 3

verb (1)

walled ; walling ; walls

transitive verb

1 a : to provide, cover with, or surround with or as if with a wall wall in the garden b : to separate by or as if by a wall walled off half the house 2 a : immure walled the monster up within the tomb E. A. Poe b : to close (an opening) with or as if with a wall

wall

3 of 3

verb (2)

walled ; walling ; walls

intransitive verb

of the eyes : to roll in a dramatic manner

transitive verb

: to roll (one's eyes) in a dramatic manner Phrases off the wall slang : highly unusual : bizarre The plan was off the wall. up the wall slang : into a state of intense agitation, annoyance, or frustration The noise drove me up the wall .

Synonyms

Noun

barricade barrier fence hedge

Verb (1)

box (in) cage closet coop (up) corral encage encase enclose inclose envelop fence (in) hedge hem (in) house immure include mew (up) pen See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of wall in a Sentence

Noun A stone wall marks off their property. the Great Wall of China the walls of the ancient city She hung posters on the walls of her room. This apartment building has thin walls , and you can hear everything your neighbors say. Muscles in the abdominal wall help protect organs. Verb (1) a lake almost entirely walled in by mountains See More Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun Jewett added that the impact of the academies extends beyond the walls of high school, and includes building relationships between local business, parents and the broader community. Lena Miano, Arkansas Online , 20 May 2025 King’s home is a temple to Black excellence, art-directed like a Pedro Almodóvar movie (its colored walls adorned with paintings and artifacts from Lee’s personal collection), in a way that collapses the distance between the filmmaker and his fictional protagonist. Peter Debruge, Variety , 19 May 2025 Verb Plus, the goal has always been to immerse guests in the real Jamaica—not wall them off. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com , 30 Apr. 2025 Since 2021, the western terminus has been 1 1/2 miles west of Golden at Tunnel 1 in Clear Creek Canyon, a dramatic setting where rock walls hundreds of feet tall tower over rushing rapids. John Meyer, Denver Post , 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wall

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English weall ; akin to Middle High German wall ; both from Latin vallum rampart, from vallus stake, palisade; perhaps akin to Old Norse vǫlr staff — more at wale

Verb (2)

Middle English (Scots) wawlen , probably from Middle English wawil- (in wawil-eghed walleyed)

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler The first known use of wall was before the 12th century See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing wall

back is to / against the wall body wall brick wall cell wall Chinese wall climbing wall curtain wall drive (someone) up a wall drive (someone) up the wall drystone wall fire wall fly - on - the - wall fourth wall go to the wall handwriting on the wall hit the wall hole - in - the - wall party wall primary wall retaining wall see / read the writing / handwriting on the wall stone wall the writing / handwriting is on the wall Trombe wall up against a / the wall wailing wall wall in wall - mounted wall off wall painting wall plate wall plug wall rock wall rocket wall system wall - to - wall wall up writing on the wall See More

Rhymes for wall

ahl all aul bawl brawl call caul crawl dol doll drawl fall See All Rhymes for wall

Browse Nearby Words

walky-talky wall wallaba See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to wall

The Good, The Bad, & The

The words that defined the week of December 28th, 2018

Cite this Entry

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“Wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wall. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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Kids Definition

wall

1 of 2 noun ˈwȯl 1 : a structure (as of brick or stone) meant to enclose or shut off a space especially : a side of a room or building 2 : something resembling a wall especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense a tariff wall 3 : a layer of material that encloses space the heart wall the walls of a container walled ˈwȯld adjective

wall

2 of 2 verb 1 : to provide, separate, or surround with or as if with a wall wall in the garden 2 : to close off an opening with or as if with a wall wall up a door

Medical Definition

wall

noun ˈwȯl : a structural layer surrounding a cavity, hollow organ, or mass of material molecules small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal wall Josie Glausiusz muscles of the abdominal wall walled ˈwȯld adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on wall

Nglish: Translation of wall for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wall

Last Updated: 23 May 2025 - Updated example sentences Love words? Need even more definitions?

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