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 palette in the sleeping quarters is neutral—beiges and reddish browns, touches of sage green and gray—while the bathrooms are clad in dramatic black marble. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026

Slightly more clothed was Emma Stone, glowing in a buttery satin top and beaded skirt by Louis Vuitton, and looking remarkably at ease in, of all things, a formal crop top. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026

And Anthony Davis fended off pointed comments about his fit, clad in Packers gear like a Champs mannequin. —Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026

From statement kitchen islands clad in marble effect porcelain to entryway floors where guests can keep their shoes on without the guilt, this material delivers practicality and style in several spaces within a home. —Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026

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