decorate

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verb dec·o·rate \ˈde-kə-ˌrāt\

Definition of decorate

decorated

;

decorating

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

See decorate defined for English-language learners

See decorate defined for kids

Examples of decorate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of decorate from the Web

There had been no time to celebrate, no pink walls to decorate for another daughter.

— alden woods, azcentral, "60 days to find a home: Lack of affordable housing forces renters to settle", 2 July 2017
Locals decked out in patriotic attire are to decorate their bicycles, skateboards, wagons, roller skates, wheelchairs, strollers and other wheel-devices to reflect the day’s theme.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Rancho Bernardo to offer full-day of Independence Day fun", 28 June 2017
After hearing the story, families will receive flowerpots to decorate and seeds to take home and plant.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "The tree that grew roots — and hope — inside a concentration camp", 23 June 2017
Kids can create and decorate chocolate sea shells, chocolate bars, chocolate pizza, chocolate houses and chocolate picture frames.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "South Florida weekend fun includes free family movies, Baby and Toddler Fair", 22 June 2017
Dave, standing 6-foot-4, had decorated careers in football, basketball and tennis that earned him a spot in Perry High's athletic Hall of Fame.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "'Tru' Papa Bear: How Dave Trubisky helped Mitch become man Bears had to have", 17 June 2017
Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including most beautiful hat, craziest chapeau and most beautifully decorated table.

— Rancho Bernardo, "Ed Brown Center hosting June 25 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party'", 16 June 2017
There's a waiting room that's decorated with a mini stone fountain and displays of paper flowers.

— stephanie russell-kraft, Marie Claire, "This Doctor Dropped Everything to Perform Abortions Full-Time", 13 June 2017
Personal Style Stickers decorate the rear window of a vintage Chevrolet.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "See Classic Hot Rods and Harleys Chew Sand at the Race of Gentlemen", 12 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of decorate

Latin decoratus, past participle of decorare, from decor-, decus ornament, honor — more at decent

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First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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

DECORATE Defined for English Language Learners

decorate

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verb

Definition of decorate for English Language Learners

: to make (something) more attractive usually by putting something on it
: to give a medal or award to (someone, such as a soldier)

DECORATE Defined for Kids

decorate

play

verb dec·o·rate \ˈde-kə-ˌrāt\

Definition of decorate for Students

decorated

;

decorating

1 : to make more attractive by adding beautiful or festive things We decorated the room with flowers.
2 : to award a badge of honor to The soldier was decorated for bravery.