wreathe
Americanverb (used with object)
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wreathes,
present (3rd person singular)
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wreathed,
past participle, past
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wreathen,
past participle (Archaic)
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wreathing
present participle
verb
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to form into or take the form of a wreath by intertwining or twisting together
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(tr) to decorate, crown, or encircle with wreaths
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to move or cause to move in a twisting way
smoke wreathed up to the ceiling
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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wreathesimple
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wreathessimple
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have wreathedperfect
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have wreathenperfect
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has wreathedperfect
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has wreathenperfect
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am wreathingprogressive
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are wreathingprogressive
-
is wreathingprogressive
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have been wreathingperfect progressive
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has been wreathingperfect progressive
Past
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wreathedsimple
-
had wreathedperfect
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had wreathenperfect
-
was wreathingprogressive
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were wreathingprogressive
-
had been wreathingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of wreathe
1520–30; earlier wrethe, partly v. use of wreath, partly back formation from wrethen, obsolete past participle of writhe
Vocabulary lists containing wreathe
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:
But if she and her wreathe of shadow-selves are looking for labels, “writer” suits them all just fine.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2017
Two bizarre plotlines wreathe around each other in “The Dark Room.”
From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2017
About 1,300 active satellites wreathe the globe in a crowded nest of orbits, providing worldwide communications, GPS navigation, weather forecasting and planetary surveillance.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 10, 2015
His bald head is radiant, his skull capacious, and the black hair at his temples resembles nothing so much as the laurel leaves that used to wreathe the heads of victorious Roman generals.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 16, 2012
Even at her age she still feels the urge to wreathe herself in flowers.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
The Army major who runs the team that makes the poppies and wreathes said he was "horrified" by the act of vandalism outside the City Chambers building in the Royal Mile.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2022
Shakeeva’s self-portrait wreathes her face with birds and flowers, while Smitchkova centers peacocks and orange trees behind an open blue door flanked by ornamental tiles.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 12, 2022
On a recent day, the sobbing relatives of a steelworker and his factory colleagues stood outside a cathedral with wreathes of flowers.
From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2022
"It has come up before that the wreathes themselves are purchased from a related entity," he said.
From Fox News ● Dec. 14, 2021
Scattered around it were faded wreathes and crushed bouquets of plastic flowers, which made the place seem even sadder.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Jesus's first goal since January 1 left Arteta wreathed in smiles and Watkins' close-range strike in stoppage-time couldn't stop Arsenal revelling in their statement victory.
From Barron's ● Dec. 30, 2025
Mr. Chen shows the family trundling in a horse-drawn cart toward forbidding mountains wreathed in mist.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
The crosses throughout a bizarre realm wreathed in shadow mark sites where he has shed his corporeal flesh.
From New York Times ● Jun. 18, 2024
But though William is clearly recognizable through the window, the figure beside him is wreathed in shadow and turned away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2024
Deen had been the one to spot the small green boat, appearing through mist that wreathed the island, cutting through the whitecapped waves.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
And over the heads of the twain did hover winged Cupids and watched them laughingly, whiles fair dames and their gallants, their brows wreathen with flowers, footed it on the lush grass.
From The Merrie Tales of Jacques Tournebroche And Child Life in Town and Country by A. R. (Alfred Richard) Allinson
The latter is completely concealed in a May-bush, wears a wooden crown wreathen with flowers, and carries a wooden sword.
From The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer
Some people nearby seemed unconcerned, going about their business with barely a glance at the smoke wreathing the mine’s tower.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2022
We went south to Glenwood Springs and spent hours splashing in the hot mineral water, the steam wreathing our heads, the crystalline January day all around us.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2018
It is just one of three fires wreathing parts of the Golden State in smoke.
From Economist ● Aug. 18, 2016
And so she gave in, thanking him, wreathing her face with delight, even though she wished the diamonds were bigger.
From New York Times ● Jun. 28, 2016
His slate-blue eyes pierced through the veil of smoke wreathing his features.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
