ribbon

1 of 2

noun

rib·​bon ˈri-bən 

1

a

: a flat or tubular narrow closely woven fabric (as of silk or rayon) used for trimmings or knitting

b

: a narrow fabric used for tying packages

c

: a piece of usually multicolored ribbon worn as a military decoration or in place of a medal

d

: a strip of colored satin given for winning a place in a competition

2

: a strip of inked fabric (as in a typewriter)

3

ribbons plural : reins for controlling an animal

4

: tatter, shred

—usually plural

a sheet cut to ribbons

5

: ribband

ribbonlike

ˈri-bən-ˌlīk 

adjective

ribbon

2 of 2

verb

ribboned; ribboning; ribbons

transitive verb

1

a

: to adorn with ribbons

b

: to divide into ribbons

c

: to cover with or as if with ribbons

2

: to rip to shreds

Synonyms of ribbon

Noun

• strip

Verb

• tear
• rip

Examples of ribbon in a Sentence

Noun

She wore pink ribbons in her hair.

She tied a ribbon around the present.

The present was tied with ribbon.

The soldier proudly wore his ribbons and medals.

Her pie won a ribbon at the county fair.

Verb

over the years the historic flag had become badly ribboned by the wind

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday at the historic theater, marking a major milestone for a project that began the first phase of construction in 2011. — Lamonica Peters, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

That includes simple double-ribbon tail lights, a delightfully unfussy side profile, and absolutely astounding headlights that somehow emanate from jewellike strips that run across the nose of the vehicle. — Marco Della Cava, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

Verb

Mesquite and acacia trees ribbon the lower elevations, while Douglas firs and ponderosa pine line the upper reaches. — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026

Eager to make connections with important people, Kapoor invited mayors to ribbon cuttings and doled outmore than $100,000 in campaign checks from corporate accounts, about half of which went to a political committee supporting a losing candidate in this November’s Miami Beach mayoral race. — Sarah Blaskey, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English riban, from Anglo-French ribane, rubane

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ribbon

• blue ribbon
• red ribbon
• ribbon development
• ribbon worm

Rhymes for ribbon

• inhibin

Kids Definition

ribbon

noun

rib·​bon

ˈrib-ən

1

a

: a narrow usually closely woven strip of colorful fabric (as silk) used especially for decoration

b

: a ribbon worn as a military decoration or as a symbol of a medal

c

: a ribbon given as an award in a competition

2

: a strip of inked fabric (as in a typewriter)

3

: tatter sense 1, shred

—usually used in plural

torn to ribbons

ribbonlike

-ˌlīk

adjective