as in dresses
to place on one's person
she donned her best gown for the ball
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Recent Examples of dons
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
After the revolutionary group the French 75 goes into hiding, Mae West dons a black Edna Mode–style bob to lurk around a grocery store.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Outside of Gucci, Rodrigo typically dons pieces from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent on the red carpet and in her everyday attire.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 21 Dec. 2025
And yet, the women insist on glamour and dignity — one performer dons a beautiful, elaborate bikini and dances like the room is packed with adoring fans.
—James Factora, Them., 12 Dec. 2025
Just as sunlight interrupts the darkness over his small Hokkaido city, the 76-year-old pulls on his rain boots and dons a bright orange jacket.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
That motif extends to the trippy video, where McRae dons angel wings, like a Gen Z version of Claire Danes in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
Then, her mom heard about auditions for a Disney Channel half-hour sitcom called Hannah Montana, about a brunette schoolgirl by day who dons a blonde wig and becomes a pop princess by night.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Early on, Ingrid dons a gold dress.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Cyclops dons a more comic-accurate blue-and-yellow uniform, while Xavier wears a black-and-red X symbol on his gray jacket.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
After the revolutionary group the French 75 goes into hiding, Mae West dons a black Edna Mode–style bob to lurk around a grocery store.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Outside of Gucci, Rodrigo typically dons pieces from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent on the red carpet and in her everyday attire.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 21 Dec. 2025
And yet, the women insist on glamour and dignity — one performer dons a beautiful, elaborate bikini and dances like the room is packed with adoring fans.
—James Factora, Them., 12 Dec. 2025
Just as sunlight interrupts the darkness over his small Hokkaido city, the 76-year-old pulls on his rain boots and dons a bright orange jacket.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
That motif extends to the trippy video, where McRae dons angel wings, like a Gen Z version of Claire Danes in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
Then, her mom heard about auditions for a Disney Channel half-hour sitcom called Hannah Montana, about a brunette schoolgirl by day who dons a blonde wig and becomes a pop princess by night.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Early on, Ingrid dons a gold dress.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dons
Verb
-
Back then, she had been advised—free of charge—by stylist Bailey Moon, who dresses the likes of Morgan Spector and Cristin Milioti and is most widely known for having worked with Jill Biden and her family throughout president Joe Biden’s administration.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker dresses her mattress with these and is a fan of their design and breathable feel.—
Nora Taylor,
Architectural Digest,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Why are two social work professors only thinking in terms of behaviors?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In addition, college students are increasingly using AI to do coursework, which is often graded by professors using AI.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When Glassman asked him if the burns were third-degree or second-degree, Rudd feigned being unable to recall what doctors had told him.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
There, doctors performed a corneal scraping.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Colleges have lived large on student loans, paying the salaries of bloated administrative staff and big-bucks deans and coaches.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
While Harvard did not confirm that Davis was removed for the inflammatory posts, Fox News Digital obtained the text from an email sent by the faculty deans of Dunster House confirming Davis' removal.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Rachel del Guidice,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Similarly, an amendment to Illinois’ Public Community College Act requires that community college courses not be taught solely by AI or generative AI programs in place of instructors.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Ski instructors, servers, housekeepers, and seasonal staff often commute long distances—or leave entirely.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The organization puts on talks and networking events for women of color in Sacramento, and solicits sponsorships from companies like AT&T and the California Faculty Association.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Branson, Missouri The fall foliage puts on just as much of a show as any of the performers in Branson, a perennial favorite among Midwest family vacation destinations.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lucy Boynton is known for her bobs and lobs, and this more demure style suits her well.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
-
That definitely suits Smith and the Blazing Trojans just fine.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The first year, delegates from the local party leadership and schoolteachers gathered parents and instructed them in how to decorate a tree.—
Andrew Fedorov,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Law was raised in the London borough of Lewisham by parents who were schoolteachers who were involved in amateur theater.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dons. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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