robe

American  

[rohb] / roʊb /

noun

1. a long, loose or flowing gown or outer garment worn by men or women as ceremonial dress, an official vestment, or garb of office.

2. any long, loose garment, especially one for wear while lounging or preparing to dress, as a bathrobe or dressing gown.

3. a woman's gown or dress, especially of a more elaborate kind.

   a robe for the evening.

4. robes, apparel in general; dress; costume.

5. a piece of fur, cloth, knitted work, etc., used as a blanket, covering, or wrap.

   a buffalo robe; a lap robe.

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verb (used with object)

robed, robing

1. to clothe or invest with a robe or robes; dress; array.

verb (used without object)

robed, robing

1. to put on a robe.

robe British  

/ rəʊb /

noun

1. any loose flowing garment, esp the official vestment of a peer, judge, or academic

2. a dressing gown or bathrobe

3. informal a wardrobe

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verb

1. to put a robe, etc, on (oneself or someone else); dress

Other Word Forms

• robeless
  adjective
• rober
  noun
• underrobe
  noun

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

Robe says she chose the off-white Crate & Barrel center table for its 'organic, amorphous shape.'

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Take the Yuanyang Martini, an espresso martini with black sesame and black tea or Red Robe, featuring cognac, bourbon, oolong tea and white miso.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

The trail itself is notably thick with underbrush and can be junglelike in some spots, especially once you descend into Robe Canyon itself.

From Seattle Times • May 16, 2024

Camilla wore the Robe of State originally made for the late Queen Elizabeth at her 1953 coronation over an ivory gown embellished with silver and gold floral embroidery and designed by British couturier Bruce Oldfield.

From Reuters • May 6, 2023

She hoped that when the time came to don the Robe, the Singer would be satisfied as well.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• bathrobe
• costume
• dress
• frock
• garment
• kimono
• vestment