clothe

verb

ˈklōt͟h How to pronounce clothe (audio)
clothed or clad ˈklad How to pronounce clothe (audio) ; clothing
Synonyms of clothenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to cover with or as if with cloth or clothing : dress
b
: to provide with clothes
the cost of feeding and clothing a family
2
: to express or enhance by suitably significant language : couch
treaties clothed in stately phraseology
3
: to endow especially with power or a quality
the nobility in which religion and history can clothe humanity— D. R. Wallace

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of clothe in a Sentence

the cost of feeding and clothing your children they liked to clothe the twins in identical outfits just to confuse people
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.
Video posted on social media shows the man, clad in black, climbing to the top of the fence as dogs on White House grounds run toward the fence. — John Bacon, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025 The mysterious portrait, on loan to conservation charity English Heritage from a private collection, shows a young woman clad modestly in a white cap and shawl. — Amarachi Orie, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025 Initially clothed, the woman reportedly walked to the front of the plane and began shouting. — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 7 Mar. 2025 Two anonymous passengers who live in Phoenix told KPNX that the aircraft had just started taxiing when the woman, still fully clothed, walked to the front of the plane and started yelling. — Terry Dickerson, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clothe

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English clāthian, from clāth

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of clothe was before the 12th century

Rhymes for clothe

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Browse Nearby Words

clothe
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Cite this Entry

“Clothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clothe. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

clothe

verb
ˈklōt͟h How to pronounce clothe (audio)
clothed or clad ˈklad How to pronounce clothe (audio) ; clothing
1
a
: to cover with or as if with clothing : dress
b
: to provide with clothes
2
: to express in a certain way
clothe your thoughts clearly

More from Merriam-Webster on clothe

Nglish: Translation of clothe for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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