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

• 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

Designed by Foster + Partners, the restaurant is striking, clad entirely in rare white onyx across the floors, walls, and tables. —Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

The exterior is clad in wood and topped with a metal roof. —New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025

As the sun was setting, hundreds of North Texans — many clad in black — gathered with candles and posters in their hands and solidarity in their hearts. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Sep. 2025

Coroner officials said the man, who appeared to be 44 to 55 years old, was found fully clothed and lying on his right side in the dirt next to a sidewalk. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 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