- 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.
The actress marked the occasion by donning a stunning lace Schiaparelli gown featuring long sleeves and a high neckline.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
He has described watching his children donning Specs to run around playing laser tag, learn about dinosaurs and build with virtual Legos.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Al-Dabba and his sons, donning protective netted hats and wielding metal bee smokers, gently inspect the neat rows of teeming hives.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
That thought is echoed in the album’s cover art, an image of two miniature Finn Wolfhards facing off, donning colonial garb and brandishing weapons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Not wanting to waste the seal meat, he lifted the carcass in his teeth and flipped it onto the back of Lee Scoresby’s larger sledge before donning the armor.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.