Robe Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms robe American [rohb] / roʊb /

noun

1. a long, loose or flowing gown or outer garment worn by men or women as ceremonial dress, an official vestment, or garb of office.

2. any long, loose garment, especially one for wear while lounging or preparing to dress, as a bathrobe or dressing gown.

3. a woman's gown or dress, especially of a more elaborate kind.

   a robe for the evening.

4. robes, apparel in general; dress; costume.

5. a piece of fur, cloth, knitted work, etc., used as a blanket, covering, or wrap.

   a buffalo robe; a lap robe.

verb (used with object)

robed, robing

1. to clothe or invest with a robe or robes; dress; array.

verb (used without object)

robed, robing

1. to put on a robe.

robe British / rəʊb /

noun

1. any loose flowing garment, esp the official vestment of a peer, judge, or academic

2. a dressing gown or bathrobe

3. informal a wardrobe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to put a robe, etc, on (oneself or someone else); dress

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• robeless adjective
• rober noun
• underrobe noun

Etymology

Origin of robe

1225–75; Middle English < Old French: originally, spoil, booty < Germanic (akin to rob ); compare Old High German roub > German Raub

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Conrad Spa – Finding a luxurious spa that offers excellent services and has robes that fit?

From Salon

Last November, the Newport Harbor Island Resort in Rhode Island debuted a seasonal suite in collaboration with the brand Cozy Earth, with all the bedding, robes and candles available for 20% off.

From The Wall Street Journal

Horror stories are regularly shared behind the closed doors of court robing rooms.

From BBC

The robe had been a gift for her mom that didn’t fit and was stored away.

From The Wall Street Journal

He has dressed for the occasion: Crimson shoes peek out from his deep-blue, fur-lined robe, and the coordinating hat that hangs at his back, secured by a golden cord, has been respectfully removed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bathrobe
• costume
• dress
• frock
• garment
• kimono
• vestment

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.