desktop

1 of 2

noun

desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
1
: the top surface of a desk
also : an area or window on a computer screen in which icons are arranged in a manner analogous to objects on top of a desk
2
: a desktop computer

desktop

2 of 2

adjective

: of a size that can be conveniently used on a desk or table
desktop computers
compare laptop see also desktop publishing

Examples of desktop in a Sentence

Noun The desktop was covered with books and stacks of papers. He created a new folder on his desktop. Adjective She is working on a desktop video project.
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
The chassis swells slightly to accommodate its nine-function toolset but still measures in with a length and width TJB compares to a pack of gum – and not one of those big desktop canisters, either. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026 The websites for each of his movies have plain backgrounds and unfussy font choices that put me in mind of pages coded in HTML and accessed on a desktop with a gurgling internet connection in the family study circa 2003. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Adjective
For anyone who wants desktop-level performance without buying new, this refurbished iPad Pro is worth a look. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 Many people who are attempting to cut back on their Instagram use remove the app from their phone and use only the desktop-computer version, which is clunkier and less comfortable to scroll through for hours. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desktop

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desktop was in 1925

Phrases Containing desktop

Rhymes for desktop

See All Rhymes for desktop

Browse Nearby Words

desk shoe
desktop
desktop publishing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Desktop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desktop. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

desktop

1 of 2 noun
desk·​top ˈdesk-ˌtäp How to pronounce desktop (audio)
1
a
: the top of a desk
b
: an area on a computer screen in which items are arranged as if on top of a desk
2
: a desktop computer

desktop

2 of 2 adjective
: of a size that is suitable for use on a desk or table
a desktop computer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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