draped; draping
1
: to cover or adorn with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to cause to hang or stretch out loosely or carelessly
3
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds
: to become arranged in folds
this silk drapes beautifully
1
: arrangement in or of folds
2
3
: the cut or hang of clothing
Synonyms
Examples of drape in a Sentence
Verb
We'll drape strings of lights between the trees for the party.
the town hall was draped in bunting for the annual Fourth of July festivities
Recent Examples on the Web
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Renaissance men would drape a lock of hair over their heart and tie a ribbon around the end to signify they had been claimed, explains fashion historian Serena Dyer.
—Alice Robb, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023
Daly stood on the left, draping one arm around his son and standing behind his daughters.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Teenage boys were draped in the green flag of Hamas and carried high on strong shoulders through the cheering crowd.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023
The Pennsylvania Democrat was spotted at the rally wearing his signature hoodie and draped in an Israeli flag.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2023
The girls’ coffins were covered in white flags emblazoned with the scout emblem and topped with wreaths; their grandmother’s was draped in black velvet embroidered with Islamic verses.
—Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
It was first used in Germany in the early 1600s when the silver material was draped over tree branches to catch the flickering lights of the real candles used to adorn Christmas trees.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023
My garlic noodles arrive in a tangled mountain with a sizable filet of catfish draped over the peak.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
The sketch begins with Biden attempting to climb a wobbly ladder to attach a purple bat to some drapes, only to nix the idea.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2023
Then consider that a tie, unlike a traditional knot, must wrap around a person’s neck and drape against their chest.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
This 39-inch Beaded Garland crafted from natural wood elegantly drapes and complements mantles, shelves, candle holders, and more.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023
The drape measures the amount of blood lost and provides a quick and objective visual cue to hospital workers that a patient is in danger.
—Jennifer Fields, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023
Once the anesthesia takes effect, the chest will be swabbed with an antibacterial solution and the body covered with sterile drapes.
—Jennifer Whitlock, Rn, Msn, Fn, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2023
Green velvet drapes line a hall in Elliott Puckette’s Brooklyn brownstone.
—Jermaine Gallacher, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2023
Haley and Scott also argued over curtains that cost more than $50,000 in the residence of the ambassador to the U.N.
Haley was the first to live there, but the Obama administration had decided to purchase the drapes, according to officials who spoke with the New York Times.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2023
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Verb
The tabletops are Formica, the windows are draped in lace and the time is always breakfast, whatever’s on the plate.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Renaissance men would drape a lock of hair over their heart and tie a ribbon around the end to signify they had been claimed, explains fashion historian Serena Dyer.
—Alice Robb, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023
Daly stood on the left, draping one arm around his son and standing behind his daughters.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Teenage boys were draped in the green flag of Hamas and carried high on strong shoulders through the cheering crowd.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023
The Pennsylvania Democrat was spotted at the rally wearing his signature hoodie and draped in an Israeli flag.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2023
The girls’ coffins were covered in white flags emblazoned with the scout emblem and topped with wreaths; their grandmother’s was draped in black velvet embroidered with Islamic verses.
—Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
It was first used in Germany in the early 1600s when the silver material was draped over tree branches to catch the flickering lights of the real candles used to adorn Christmas trees.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023
My garlic noodles arrive in a tangled mountain with a sizable filet of catfish draped over the peak.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
Noun
Because the children must be distracted, because the moms and dads — the ones who are not dead or missing — sometimes must go to their rooms and close the drapes.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
The sketch begins with Biden attempting to climb a wobbly ladder to attach a purple bat to some drapes, only to nix the idea.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2023
Then consider that a tie, unlike a traditional knot, must wrap around a person’s neck and drape against their chest.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
This 39-inch Beaded Garland crafted from natural wood elegantly drapes and complements mantles, shelves, candle holders, and more.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023
The drape measures the amount of blood lost and provides a quick and objective visual cue to hospital workers that a patient is in danger.
—Jennifer Fields, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023
Once the anesthesia takes effect, the chest will be swabbed with an antibacterial solution and the body covered with sterile drapes.
—Jennifer Whitlock, Rn, Msn, Fn, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2023
Green velvet drapes line a hall in Elliott Puckette’s Brooklyn brownstone.
—Jermaine Gallacher, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2023
Haley and Scott also argued over curtains that cost more than $50,000 in the residence of the ambassador to the U.N.
Haley was the first to live there, but the Obama administration had decided to purchase the drapes, according to officials who spoke with the New York Times.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably back-formation from drapery
First Known Use
Verb
1847, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to drape
Dictionary Entries Near drape
Cite this Entry
“Drape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drape. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
drape
1 of 2 noundrape
2 of 2 verb
draped; draping
1
: to cover or decorate with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds
a beautifully draped satin dress
More from Merriam-Webster on drape
Nglish: Translation of drape for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drape for Arabic Speakers
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