What does "robe" mean?
A long loose outer garment, often signifying honorary stature.
Robe
/ɹəʊb/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A long loose outer garment, often signifying honorary stature.
- Grammar: robe is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: clothe, gown, abaya, academic gown.
- Useful contrasts: bare skin, casual clothes, culotte.
- Usage evidence: He wore a robe over his pajamas.
How to use "robe"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "robe" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "robe" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "robe" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "robe" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "robe" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "clothe" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "robe", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A long loose outer garment, often signifying honorary stature.
"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; / Robes and furred gowns hide all."
- 2 outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasions wordnet
- 3 The skin of an animal, especially the bison, dressed with the fur on, and used as a wrap. US
- 4 any loose flowing garment wordnet
- 5 A wardrobe, especially one built into a bedroom.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The largest and strongest tobacco leaves.
Verb
- 1 To clothe; to dress. transitive
"robed in glory"
- 2 clothe formally; especially in ecclesiastical robes wordnet
- 3 To put on official vestments. intransitive
- 4 cover as if with clothing wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 A town and local government area (the District Council of Robe) on the Limestone Coast of South Australia, named after Frederick Robe.
- 3 An unincorporated community in Snohomish County, Washington, United States, named after a pioneer.
Example
"He wore a robe over his pajamas."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "robe"?
Common synonyms include: clothe, gown, abaya, academic gown, afghan, alb.
How do you use "robe" in a sentence?
He wore a robe over his pajamas.
How do you pronounce "robe"?
Pronounced /ɹəʊb/.
Etymology
From Middle English robe, roobe, from Old French robe, robbe, reube (“booty, spoils of war, robe, garment”), from Frankish *rouba, *rauba (“booty, spoils, stolen clothes”, literally “things taken”), from Proto-Germanic *raubō, *raubaz, *raubą (“booty, that which is stripped or carried away”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hrewp- (“to tear, peel”). cognates and related terms Akin to Old High German roup (“booty”) (Modern German Raub (“robbery, spoils”)), Old High German roubōn (“to rob, steal”) (Modern German rauben (“to rob”)), Old English rēaf (“spoils, booty, dress, armour, robe, garment”), Old English rēafian (“to steal, deprive”). Cognate with Spanish ropa (“clothing, clothes”). More at rob, reaf, reave.