decorate
DEH-kuh-rayt
Decorate (verb) means to add ornaments or decorations to something, or to improve the appearance of a room or building. Example: “They decorated the hall with balloons and streamers for the party.”
verb
1
To add ornaments or decorations to something, or to improve the appearance of a room or building.
"They decorated the hall with balloons and streamers for the party."
"We spent the weekend decorating the nursery before the baby arrived."
2
To honour someone by awarding them a medal, ribbon, or similar mark of distinction.
"The soldier was decorated for bravery after the rescue mission."
How to use decorate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something look nicer with ornaments, or to formally honour someone with an award.
Common pairings
decorate a room
decorate for a holiday
decorated for valour
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- decorates
- Past tense
- decorated
- Comparative
- more decorate
- Superlative
- most decorate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ the hall with balloons and streamers for the party.
Etymology
From Latin decorātus, the past participle of decorāre ("to adorn, honour"), from decus ("ornament, honour").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for decorate
See all rhymes for decorate →Frequently asked questions
What does “decorate” mean?
The word “decorate” means to add ornaments or decorations to something, or to improve the appearance of a room or building. In plain terms, to make something look nicer with ornaments, or to formally honour someone with an award.
How do you pronounce “decorate”?
“Decorate” is pronounced DEH-kuh-rayt (/ˈdɛkəɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “decorate” in a sentence?
Here is “decorate” used in a sentence: “They decorated the hall with balloons and streamers for the party.”
What is another word for “decorate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “decorate” include adore, adorn, apparel, array, invest and detail.
What is the opposite of “decorate”?
The opposite of “decorate” — its antonyms — are deface, disfigure, defigure and distort.
What part of speech is “decorate”?
“Decorate” is a verb.
Where does the word “decorate” come from?
The word “decorate” comes from Latin. From Latin decorātus, the past participle of decorāre ("to adorn, honour"), from decus ("ornament, honour").
Is “decorate” a common word?
“Decorate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
