disrobe

American  

[dis-rohb] / dɪsˈroʊb /

verb (used with or without object)

disrobed, disrobing

1. to undress.

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disrobe British  

/ dɪsˈrəʊb /

verb

1. to remove the clothing of (a person) or (of a person) to undress

2. (tr) to divest of authority, etc

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Other Word Forms

• disrobement noun
• disrober noun

Etymology

Origin of disrobe

1575–85; dis- ¹ + robe; compare Middle French desrober

Explanation

When you disrobe, you take your clothes off. Before you go swimming, you should probably disrobe and put on a bathing suit. Everyone disrobes, before we take a shower, change our clothes, or go skinny dipping. To disrobe is simply to get undressed. You might disrobe in a dressing room to try on a tuxedo or disrobe before your karate class so you can put on your white karate gi. The word uses the prefix dis-, "do the opposite of," before robe, with its old fashioned verb sense of "clothe."

Example Sentences

When we were eventually led into Osmosis’ tidy changing rooms to disrobe, I smelled what she meant before I saw it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

Or Max Scherzer defiantly beginning to disrobe during an in-game check by umpires?

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2022

Monsignor Charles Portelli, who was the cathedral's master of ceremonies in the 1990s, testified that he was always with Pell after Mass to help him disrobe in the sacristy.

From Fox News • Feb. 26, 2019

Later, a curt attendee comes to lead her down a drab, darkened hall, ushers her into a room, locks the door, and asks Sawyer to empty her bag, hand over her phone and disrobe.

From Washington Times • Mar. 21, 2018

Spite of his reluctance therefore, he was compelled to slide down from his saddle, and disrobe himself in the middle of the road.

From The White Gauntlet by Reid, Mayne

Related Words

• undress