attire

1 of 2

verb

at·​tire ə-ˈtī(-ə)r 

attired; attiring

transitive verb

: to put garments on : dress, array

… proceeded to attire herself for a professional visit.

—Charles Dickens

The guests were formally attired. [=wearing formal clothing]

especially : to clothe in fancy or rich garments

dancers attired in colorful costumes

attire

2 of 2

noun

1

: dress, clothes

business attire

especially : splendid or decorative clothing

the queen in her royal attire

2

: the antlers or antlers and scalp of a stag or buck

Synonyms

Verb

• dress
• clothe
• costume
• gown
• apparel
• garment

Noun

• clothing
• clothes
• dress
• garments
• apparel
• wear

Examples of attire in a Sentence

Verb

men attired in tuxedos for the awards banquet

Noun

Proper attire is required at the restaurant.

needed some snazzy attire for the job interview

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Catmull enters attired in a black gown lined with sparkling contours that recall the sinuous figures of artist and designer Erté. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Beside him was Janet, his second wife, who was two decades younger and smartly attired in shades, a plaid sunhat, and a sleeveless blouse. —Alec Nevala-Lee june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025

Noun

Rambin shared a behind-the-scenes look at the photoshoot on TikTok, which offered a glimpse of the couple's first look at one another in their wedding attire. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 July 2025

Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, athletic clothes, running shoes, a towel and proper swimming attire to camp each day. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French atirer to equip, prepare, attire, from a- (from Latin ad-) + tire order, rank, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English tīr glory, ornament

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for attire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

Kids Definition

attire

1 of 2 verb

at·​tire ə-ˈtī(ə)r 

attired; attiring

: to put clothes and especially special or fine clothes on

attire

2 of 2 noun

: clothing sense 1

especially : fine clothes