robe
Americannoun
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robes
plural
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a long, loose or flowing gown or outer garment worn by men or women as ceremonial dress, an official vestment, or garb of office.
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any long, loose garment, especially one for wear while lounging or preparing to dress, as a bathrobe or dressing gown.
-
a woman's gown or dress, especially of a more elaborate kind.
a robe for the evening.
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robes, apparel in general; dress; costume.
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a piece of fur, cloth, knitted work, etc., used as a blanket, covering, or wrap.
a buffalo robe; a lap robe.
verb (used with object)
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robes,
present (3rd person singular)
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robed,
past participle, past
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robing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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robes,
present (3rd person singular)
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robed,
past participle, past
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robing
present participle
noun
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any loose flowing garment, esp the official vestment of a peer, judge, or academic
-
a dressing gown or bathrobe
-
informal a wardrobe
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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robesimple
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robessimple
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have robedperfect
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has robedperfect
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am robingprogressive
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are robingprogressive
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is robingprogressive
-
have been robingperfect progressive
-
has been robingperfect progressive
Past
-
robedsimple
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had robedperfect
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was robingprogressive
-
were robingprogressive
-
had been robingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of robe
1225–75; Middle English < Old French: originally, spoil, booty < Germanic (akin to rob ); compare Old High German roub > German Raub
Explanation
A robe is a loose piece of clothing that you might wear over your pajamas or put on when you get out of the shower. Most robes tie around the waist with a fabric belt. There are dressier types of robes as well, like the ceremonial robes a judge wears in a courtroom or the elegant robes worn by a queen on a formal occasion. You can also use robe a verb, meaning "to dress or clothe," or literally "to put on a robe." Robe shares a Germanic root with rob, most likely from the idea that robbers would "take garments from the enemy as spoils or booty."
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.
See Examples For:
The artwork introduced tension between Indigenous traditions and Western conventions through the inclusion of Mai’s robe, turban and hand tattoos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Rangzen's livestream of his death shows a heavy-set man striding across a street in a traditional "chuba" robe and planting a Tibetan flag outside the UN.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
As he stood in his traditional full-length black robe outside his church, a man paused to clear his nose next to him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
While she wore a white robe and slippers, Jake wore a black Under Armour top and shorts with white trainers.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
Many nights my last waking sight would be Eusie in long robe and tasseled nightcap, handing his day clothes through the secret panel.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
And not just because he thinks the robes look "ridiculous".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
We’ve got all the fancy soaps, deluxe robes and we added a washer and dryer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Comedian-turned-DJ Yoon Seong-ho, who performs under the stage name NewJeansNim in monk robes and mixes electronic music with chants, agrees there is a delicate balance.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
Footage posted online shows saffron robes and belongings scattered by the roadside, and a wrecked vehicle.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
It wasn’t what I’d have imagined as a boy: a castle on a lonely cliff, scholars in robes rushing down stone stairways with heavy books.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
The Statue of Liberty, the copper-clad sculpture of a robed and crowned woman holding a torch above her head, sits in New York's harbor and draws millions of visitors each year.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
The manosphere’s sobriety is robed in strength and self-actualization, no different than the sleep routine, supplements, and squats that will sculpt the best version of you.
From Slate ● Feb. 15, 2026
Yet she’s also a protein-loading weight-lifting buff who favors all-black outfits and clear opinions, not a robed oracle speaking in riddles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
Performers are robed and instruments are carried on ramshackle wheelbarrows, setting up the transitory mood of the night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2025
Melisandre was robed all in scarlet satin and blood velvet, her eyes as red as the great ruby that glistened at her throat as if it too were afire.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
The presiding judge in the lawsuit, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, was in his robing room when he heard shouting on the floor.
From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2023
In response to the note, the judge questioned the juror in her robing room with lawyers on both sides present.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 7, 2022
After the jurors requested that the juror be replaced, Torres interviewed him in her robing room with lawyers from both sides present.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2022
Over her decade in Baptist youth ministry, Dec. 24 meant prepping sermons at the church, sending out last-minute Christmas emails to her young people, robing up.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 24, 2021
Maybe he merely brushed against me as he was robing off the bed.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
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.
