clothe

verb

ˈklōt͟h 

clothed or clad ˈklad  ; clothing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cover with or as if with cloth or clothing : dress

b

: to provide with clothes

the cost of feeding and clothing a family

2

: to express or enhance by suitably significant language : couch

treaties clothed in stately phraseology

3

: to endow especially with power or a quality

… the nobility in which religion and history can clothe humanity.

—D. R. Wallace

Synonyms of clothe

• dress
• garment
• apparel
• costume
• gown
• attire
• toilet
• garb

Examples of clothe in a Sentence

the cost of feeding and clothing your children

they liked to clothe the twins in identical outfits just to confuse people

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests include those already loyal to the Six Senses brand and Missoni clad fashionistas who have heard about the hideaway’s sizable wellness offerings. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026

Though he was fully clothed, his throat had also been slit. —John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026

Immediately after the shooting, Ellis drove to nearby South Beach Park, abandoned his car, went into the ocean fully clothed and swam about 900 yards offshore, Currey added. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026

Another of her stars is a fierce fast-food warrior clad in a cheeseburger skirt, wielding ketchup and mustard laser guns and flanked by a squad of fighters who happen to be anthropomorphic pizza and hot dogs. —Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English clāthian, from clāth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for clothe

• loathe

Kids Definition

clothe

verb

ˈklōt͟h 

clothed or clad ˈklad  ; clothing

1

a

: to cover with or as if with clothing : dress

b

: to provide with clothes

2

: to express in a certain way

clothe your thoughts clearly