naked
NAY-kihd
Naked (adj) means wearing no clothes at all. Example: “He jumped into the lake completely naked.”
adj
1
Wearing no clothes at all.
"He jumped into the lake completely naked."
"The toddler ran naked through the sprinkler."
"The statue in the middle of the square shows a naked figure holding a torch."
2
Stated plainly and directly, without softening or disguise.
"She admitted, in naked terms, that the plan had failed."
"Let me give you the naked truth: the project is behind schedule."
"His speech was a naked appeal for support, with no polite excuses."
3
Missing a covering, support, or protection that would normally be there.
"The naked wires were a serious fire hazard."
"He stared at the night sky with the naked eye, no telescope needed."
"The naked branches of the oak looked stark against the winter sky."
4
Exposed and unprotected, as if something essential were stripped away.
"Without her notes she felt naked in front of the panel."
"After the scandal, the company felt naked without the trust of its customers."
"Walking onstage without my guitar, I felt naked and rather nervous."
How to use naked
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBare or uncovered — used literally for the body and figuratively for anything stripped of its usual covering or disguise.
Common mistake
In finance, "naked" describes a trade made without owning the underlying asset (e.g. a naked short) — a specialised sense worth knowing if you read business news.
Common pairings
naked eye
naked truth
stark naked
naked flame
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more naked
- Superlative
- most naked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He jumped into the lake completely _____.
Etymology
From Old English nacod, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "naked" — a distant relative of "nude."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for naked
See all rhymes for naked →Frequently asked questions
What does “naked” mean?
The word “naked” means wearing no clothes at all. In plain terms, bare or uncovered — used literally for the body and figuratively for anything stripped of its usual covering or disguise.
How do you pronounce “naked”?
“Naked” is pronounced NAY-kihd (/ˈneɪkɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “naked” in a sentence?
Here is “naked” used in a sentence: “He jumped into the lake completely naked.”
What is another word for “naked”?
Words with a similar meaning to “naked” include bare, bareskin, nude, starkers, unclad and unclothed.
What is the opposite of “naked”?
The opposite of “naked” — its antonyms — are clothed, decent and dressed.
What part of speech is “naked”?
“Naked” is an adjective.
Where does the word “naked” come from?
The word “naked” comes from Old English. From Old English nacod, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "naked" — a distant relative of "nude.".
Is “naked” a common word?
“Naked” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between naked and nude?
Both mean wearing no clothes, but the tone differs. Nude is the softer, more neutral term, favoured in art, fashion, and polite description. Naked is more direct and often carries a sense of exposure or vulnerability. You'd speak of a nude painting, but the naked truth.
What is the opposite of naked?
The opposite of naked is clothed, dressed, or covered. In figurative uses the antonym shifts: the opposite of a naked flame is a shielded or enclosed one, and the opposite of the naked eye is aided or magnified vision through a lens or microscope.
Does naked always mean without clothes?
No — naked has several figurative senses meaning exposed, bare, or unaided. The naked eye sees without a telescope or microscope; the naked truth is plain and unconcealed; a naked flame is uncovered; and naked branches are stripped of leaves. Context makes the intended meaning clear.
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