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
From the M-W Editors
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
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Listed at $349,200, the home is professionally decorated, with three bedrooms, two full baths and two living areas.
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It’s decorated by a series of small glass murals depicting life on the river during the Delta King’s heyday.
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The owners had an adult-sized yellow bicycle decorated with red and green lights for the 2000 project that has become a staple of their exterior landscape.
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A Michigan woman is accused of stealing a handmade bench, flowers and other objects from local cemeteries that were later used to decorate her home.
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Students at Mary Queen of Peace decorated flower pots for the new homes.
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Students and teachers spent Thursday decorating the school in yellow-and-black paper chains.
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David Hofmann of Blue Springs helped his mother and aunt carry wreaths and flowers to decorate family members’ graves Sunday at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Kansas City.
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Boughs of cedar, white currant and flowering plum hung in bouquets from its corners, and its lip was decorated with prayer flags.
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
First Known Use: 1530
Synonym Discussion of decorate
DECORATE Defined for English Language Learners
decorate
playDefinition of decorate for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) more attractive usually by putting something on it
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: to give a medal or award to (someone, such as a soldier)
DECORATE Defined for Kids
decorate
playDefinition 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.
Learn More about decorate
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See words that rhyme with decorate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for decorate Spanish Central: Translation of decorate Nglish: Translation of decorate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of decorate for Arabic speakers
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