clothe

verb

ˈklōt͟h 

clothed or clad ˈklad  ; clothing

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 of clothe

• dress
• garment
• apparel
• costume
• gown
• attire
• toilet
• garb

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

The film also features both a cameo from Powell's beloved rescue pup, Brisket, and the actor clad in nothing but a towel. —Ew Staff November 14, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025

In fact, earlier this month, the podcast host was pictured en route to Funke in Beverly Hills, clad in Saint Laurent’s Missy sandals. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Finally, Jensen’s partner waded fully clothed into the sea to rescue their stubborn retriever. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

The equipment was put to use in an overnight raid in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, when agents clad in tactical gear rappelled from a Black Hawk helicopter and burst through the windows of an apartment building to pull families from their homes. —Andy Rose 19 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for clothe

• loathe

Kids Definition

clothe

verb

ˈklōt͟h 

clothed or clad ˈklad  ; 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