verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

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

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."

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more decorate comparative, decorated past tense, decorates singular, most decorate superlative

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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").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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adore adorn apparel array invest detail beautify bedeck betrim commend decore deck

Antonyms

deface disfigure defigure distort

Related words

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Rhymes for decorate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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.

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