- present participle of don.
donning
Americannoun
-
the act of putting on a garment or piece of equipment.
In the ancient Middle East, the donning of sackcloth was a sign of mourning.
Participants will gain experience in the donning of a harness and other safety practices involved in working from heights.
-
the act of assuming or adopting a particular attitude, responsibility, etc..
The birth of a child entails the donning of a new set of priorities for the parents.
Etymology
Origin of donning
First recorded in 1830–40; don 2 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People don’t just attend shows; they arrive in elaborate, artist-inspired outfits, from Taylor Swift fans trading friendship bracelets to Beyoncé fans donning cowboy hats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Hordes of soccer fans donning Mexico and Korea jerseys were walking down Olympic Boulevard energized but not alarmed in any way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Nor is it the way they never concerned themselves with prowling the stage or donning anything other than sensible blazers and jeans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
Even through grainy, reclaimed footage, their 1970 canary-yellow shirts look vibrant and striking, fitting for the world-beating players donning them in the Mexican sunshine.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
Duuzuu noticed me donning my coat and made his questioning noise.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
