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

Vise says she was fully clothed. —Audrey Abrahams, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026

Regardless of the exterior hue, the interior comes clad in Tartufo full Merino leather trimmed in Alpina Walnut Nature Black and black floor mats. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026

Oh, sure, Spidey's regular red and blue suit is snazzy, but this Lego Iron Spider-Man bust sees the superhero clad in the outfit that Tony Stark made for him. —Chris McMullen, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Each cabin features a spherical façade clad in reddish metal panels and an aluminum roof. —New Atlas, 6 Mar. 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