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 eight buildings of the Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburb of Tai Po had all been clad in bamboo scaffolding draped with nylon netting for renovations, with windows covered by polystyrene panels. —CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025

It's clad in black larch and has a distinctive rustic appearance that brings to mind some of Rocky Mountain Tiny Homes' output. —New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2025

Santa clad in boardshorts and Hawaiian shirt will arrive by boat from the San Diego Bay and lead a parade to the fountain courtyard. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025

The housing complex was built in the 1980s and had been under renovation since last year, clad in bamboo scaffolding—a staple of the Hong Kong construction industry—and green mesh. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 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