English Reference

Word

drywall

Phoneticsdry·wall

US/ˈdɹaɪˌwɑɫ/

UK/dɹˈaɪwɔːl/

Definition

n. a flat panel made of gypsum that is used to build the walls and ceilings of buildings. It is easy to cut and paint, so it is very common in modern construction.

n. a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two sheets of paper, used as a surface for interior walls and ceilings. It is lightweight and easy to install, making it a standard material in modern construction.

Examples

“The workers hung the drywall on the new office walls.”

“After the drywall was installed, the painters began applying the first coat of primer to the ceiling.”

“While traditional lath and plaster construction remains popular in historic buildings, modern developers almost exclusively use drywall for its speed of installation and lower maintenance costs.”

Examples

simple

“The workers hung the drywall on the new office walls.”

contextual

“After the drywall was installed, the painters began applying the first coat of primer to the ceiling.”

complex

“While traditional lath and plaster construction remains popular in historic buildings, modern developers almost exclusively use drywall for its speed of installation and lower maintenance costs.”

Real-World Examples

“After tearing through decades of drywall, they hit pay dirt.”
Toronto Sun · 13 Sept 2026

Etymology

From dry + wall.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference