drape

verb

draped; draping
Synonyms of drapenext

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to become arranged in folds
this silk drapes beautifully
drapability noun
or less commonly drapeability
drapable adjective
or less commonly drapeable

Examples of drape in a Sentence

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Amelia Island, Florida An unspoiled wisp of a barrier island, Amelia Island has miles of pristine beaches with sand dunes and unfettered access to the Atlantic Ocean, plus a forest of giant oaks draped in Spanish moss just for good measure. Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026 Escola's custom Wiederhoeft creation featured a lace-up corset in pale blue taffeta with draping at the chest and hips and hand-embroidered metallic blue glass beads. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 From the annals of cooking past, sauce jouvert, spunky with marjoram, red wine vinegar, both walnuts and hazelnuts, and breadcrumbs, is raised from the annals of recipe history to be draped over pretty much any kind of vegetable. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 8 June 2026 Amid a dense thicket of timber-and-metal stalls where secondhand retailers ordinarily hawked their wares, a runner of red-and-green astroturf cut a path toward a stage draped in the tricolor of the Ghanaian flag. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for drape

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from drapery

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drape was in 1847

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Cite this Entry

“Drape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drape. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

drape

1 of 2 noun
1
plural : drapery sense 2
2
: arrangement in or of folds
3
: the cut or hang of clothing

drape

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

Medical Definition

drape

1 of 2 transitive verb
draped; draping
: to shroud or enclose with surgical drapes

drape

2 of 2 noun
: a sterile covering used in an operating room
usually used in plural

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