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.
I imagine the A.I. bot like a child playing dress-up, donning an oversized blazer and glasses for a game of “businessman.”
From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026
Team Italy, for example, celebrated home runs by donning an Armani jacket in the dugout and taking a ceremonial shot of espresso.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
On 3 March, a government rally marked two months since Maduro's arrest, with crowds donning T‑shirts bearing his face, repeating loyalist slogans.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has also been spotted donning personalized Anta shoes.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
As soon as he comes home from the university the first thing he does is hang up his shirt and trousers, donning a pair of drawstring pajamas and a pullover if it’s cold.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
![]()
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.