gown
GOWN
Gown (noun) means a long, flowing dress, especially one worn for a formal occasion. Example: “She wore a floor-length silver gown to the awards ceremony.”
noun
1
A long, flowing dress, especially one worn for a formal occasion.
"She wore a floor-length silver gown to the awards ceremony."
"The bride chose a simple ivory gown with long lace sleeves."
"She spun around the ballroom, her gown swishing across the floor."
2
A loose robe worn by certain professionals, such as judges, academics, or surgeons.
"The surgeon scrubbed in and put on a sterile gown."
"Graduates lined up in their caps and gowns."
"The judge swept into the courtroom wearing a black gown."
How to use gown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long formal dress, or a loose robe worn as professional or ceremonial dress.
Common pairings
wedding gown
hospital gown
cap and gown
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Word forms
- Plural
- gowns
- Third person singular
- gowns
- Past tense
- gowned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a floor-length silver _____ to the awards ceremony.
Etymology
From Old French goune, ultimately from Late Latin gunna, a word for a fur or leather garment.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gown
See all rhymes for gown →Frequently asked questions
What does “gown” mean?
The word “gown” means a long, flowing dress, especially one worn for a formal occasion. In plain terms, a long formal dress, or a loose robe worn as professional or ceremonial dress.
How do you pronounce “gown”?
“Gown” is pronounced GOWN (/ˈɡaʊ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “gown” in a sentence?
Here is “gown” used in a sentence: “She wore a floor-length silver gown to the awards ceremony.”
What part of speech is “gown”?
“Gown” is a noun.
Where does the word “gown” come from?
The word “gown” comes from Late Latin. From Old French goune, ultimately from Late Latin gunna, a word for a fur or leather garment.
Is “gown” a common word?
“Gown” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “gown” have?
“Gown” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, flowing dress, especially one worn for a formal occasion.
What is the difference between a gown and a dress?
A gown is a long, flowing dress, especially one worn for a formal occasion, while a dress is the general term covering any one-piece garment for women, from casual to formal. All gowns are dresses in the broad sense, but not all dresses are formal enough to be called gowns.
What is the difference between an academic gown and a hospital gown?
Both use the second sense of gown, a loose robe worn by certain professionals or in certain settings, but they serve very different purposes. An academic gown is worn by graduates, judges, or scholars as a mark of status or profession, while a hospital gown is a simple, practical garment worn by patients.
When is the word 'gown' used instead of 'robe'?
Gown and robe overlap significantly, especially for professional dress such as judges' or academics' attire, and are often used interchangeably in that context. "Gown" is more specifically associated with formal evening wear and wedding attire, while "robe" is more common for everyday loose garments like bathrobes.
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