decorate

verb

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dec·o·rate | \ ˈde-kə-ˌrāt

decorated; decorating

Definition of decorate

transitive verb

1 : to add honor to decorated commerce with the splendid virtues of honor and loyalty— Geoffrey Household

2 : to furnish with something ornamental decorate a room with artwork decorating the Christmas tree

3 : to award a mark of honor to a soldier decorated for valor highly decorated war veterans

intransitive verb

: to furnish something with ornamentation decorating for the party

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About decorate

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Choose the Right Synonym for decorate

adorn, decorate, ornament, embellish, beautify, deck, garnish mean to enhance the appearance of something by adding something unessential. adorn implies an enhancing by something beautiful in itself. a diamond necklace adorned her neck decorate suggests relieving plainness or monotony by adding beauty of color or design. decorate a birthday cake ornament and embellish imply the adding of something extraneous, ornament stressing the heightening or setting off of the original a white house ornamented with green shutters , embellish often stressing the adding of superfluous or adventitious ornament. embellish a page with floral borders beautify adds to embellish a suggestion of counterbalancing plainness or ugliness. will beautify the grounds with flower beds deck implies the addition of something that contributes to gaiety, splendor, or showiness. a house all decked out for Christmas garnish suggests decorating with a small final touch and is used especially in referring to the serving of food. an entrée garnished with parsley

Examples of decorate in a Sentence

I always enjoy decorating the Christmas tree. I decorated my apartment in dark colors.

Recent Examples on the Web Yard games and vintage campsite-style decor like gazing balls and pink flamingos will decorate the site, said Grandma's Restaurant Co. President Brian Daugherty. — Jana Hollingsworth, Star Tribune, 29 June 2021 Let the kids decorate their bikes with crepe paper and balloons. — Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 June 2021 In an email to CBS News, the superintendent said students were permitted to wear stoles and decorate their caps, including Pride colors. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 28 June 2021 In a subsequent number, flags from the various cultures that embroider Washington Heights proudly decorate the scene as residents sing until their power is restored. — Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2021 Children may also stop by the library and decorate a paper tie. — courant.com, 11 June 2021 Yellowpop’s mission is to bring joy to the home and change the way people decorate their homes. — Emma Reynolds, Forbes, 7 June 2021 Express a lemon peel over the top of the foam for aroma and discard and decorate the foam with a few drops or dashes of Angostura Bitters. — Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 20 May 2021 Paint pink Easter eggs with your little ones, hang a pink garland in your living room, and decorate your dining room table with pink tapered candles. — Madison Alcedo, Country Living, 24 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decorate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.