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Prepositions after verbs

Wrap in or wrap around?

Wrap in and wrap around are both common, but they describe different relationships between objects.

Quick answer

Wrap in covers something; wrap around surrounds it

Use wrap something in when covering an object with material. Use wrap around when one thing surrounds another.

She wrapped the gift in silver paper.
He wrapped a scarf around his neck.
Fog wrapped around the hills at dawn.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
wrap something in + material

What material covers the object?

Use in for the material used to cover or enclose something.

They wrapped the dishes in newspaper.
She wrapped the baby in a blanket.
2
wrap something around + object

What surrounds the object?

Use around when one thing goes around another.

He wrapped a rope around the box.
She wrapped her arms around her friend.
3
be wrapped in + material/state

Describing appearance or condition

Wrapped in is common in passive descriptions.

The mountains were wrapped in mist.
The package was wrapped in brown paper.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
wrap in
She wrapped the book in plastic.
Covering something with a material.
wrap around
The snake wrapped around the branch.
Surrounding or encircling something.
wrap up
Let's wrap up the meeting.
Different phrasal verb meaning finish.
be wrapped in
The town was wrapped in silence.
Passive description of being covered or surrounded.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using around instead of in for covering material

Use in with the material used for wrapping.

✕ She wrapped the gift around paper. ✓ She wrapped the gift in paper.

Forgetting the object after around

Around normally needs the thing being surrounded.

✕ He wrapped a towel around. ✓ He wrapped a towel around his waist.

Using in when something encircles another thing

Use around for surrounding movement or position.

✕ The vine wrapped in the fence. ✓ The vine wrapped around the fence.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She wrapped the flowers ___ wet cloth.
2. He wrapped the chain ___ the pole.
3. The hills were wrapped ___ fog.

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Frequently asked questions

Can wrap around be used without an object?

Yes, when the surrounding object is understood, as in The blanket wrapped around tightly.

Is wrap in only for physical objects?

No. It is also used figuratively, such as wrapped in mystery.

What is the difference between wrap and wrap up?

Wrap usually refers to covering or surrounding, while wrap up often means finish or complete something.

wade, through, wade, into wait for, in, on, at or till? wake up, from, in, at or by? walk into, in, to, through or on? wander through, around, into, in or from? "want for", "want from" or "want in"? "warn of" or "warn against"? "wash with", "wash in" or "wash over"? "waste on" or "waste in"? watch for, in, on, from or with? "wave at" or "wave to"? "weaken by", "weaken to" or "weaken of"?

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