tie-dye
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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tie-dyeing.
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Informal. a fabric or garment dyed by tie-dyeing.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tie-dye
First recorded in 1935–40
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:
They made tie-dye orange shirts for the occasion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
At least a proposed tie-dye number didn't get off the ground.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
Even several members of the CBS television production crew wore colorful tie-dye T-shirts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2025
The Celtics nodded to Walton’s Deadheadedness by coming out in black shooting shirts that said “Walton” with a tie-dye background; team staff wore pins with a similar design.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
Even in my neon tie-dye, even with my Mizz Frizz hair, nobody seemed to see me.
From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin
In another, Eric Whiteback, known as “the Supreme Guy”, tie-dyes a rare camo-print tee, creating a one-of-a-kind design for himself.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 2, 2020
Sebastian adds that he’s been living in California, in a tent, where he met a lady who tie-dyes – “a cloth house is all you need if you’ve got love.”
From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2019
The internet is full of photos and tributes to Hill fashion: a flowing brown overcoat, tie-dyes, soccer shirts, a brief interlude with pink hair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2018
Sometimes Arun sees guys in suit and ties buying tie-dyes.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2018
The association with the method is unfortunate, because unlike the large psychedelic Deadhead patterns and colors, bandini tie-dyes are delicate and intricate.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Cooks in tie-dyed aprons and sky-blue baseball caps move in double time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
Diane, wearing a red and black cap and a tie-dyed sweater, speaks: “This site was reported May 1, 2024, for unidentified persons.”
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2024
The other flag used those same colors as the stripes on a version of the U.S. flag, with white tie-dyed stars.
From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2024
Former NFL star Terrell Owens, dressed in a black and gold tie-dyed sweatsuit, pumped up the crowd by waving a towel on the sideline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2023
She wore a tie-dyed sundress, lots of beaded necklaces, and a headband over long black hair.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
They are turning it into breakfast cereal, tie-dyeing it and, in one case, wrapping it around baguettes.
From New York Times ● Mar. 29, 2023
We spent a day in their lab to see how it all worked and even did some tie-dyeing on our own.
From The Verge ● Aug. 23, 2022
Later, she began tie-dyeing some of the venue’s black T’s in bleach, which she’d stocked up on because of the pandemic.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2020
When this fabric is unfolded, those colorful patterns instantly associated with tie-dyeing appear.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2018
Each familiar face triggered an avalanche of memories: tai chi on the lawn, singalongs in the music room, tie-dyeing, the hundreds upon hundreds of Halloween dance volunteers.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
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.
