attire

1 of 2

verb

at·​tire ə-ˈtī(-ə)r How to pronounce attire (audio)
attired; attiring

transitive verb

: to put garments on : dress, array
… proceeded to attire herself for a professional visit.Charles Dickens
The guests were formally attired. [=wearing formal clothing]
especially : to clothe in fancy or rich garments
dancers attired in colorful costumes

attire

2 of 2

noun

1
: dress, clothes
business attire
especially : splendid or decorative clothing
the queen in her royal attire
2
: the antlers or antlers and scalp of a stag or buck

Examples of attire in a Sentence

Verb men attired in tuxedos for the awards banquet Noun Proper attire is required at the restaurant. needed some snazzy attire for the job interview
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Catmull enters attired in a black gown lined with sparkling contours that recall the sinuous figures of artist and designer Erté. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Beside him was Janet, his second wife, who was two decades younger and smartly attired in shades, a plaid sunhat, and a sleeveless blouse. Alec Nevala-Lee june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
Noun
The post-World War II 1960s introduced looser silhouettes as an answer to the constricted styles women wore in decades prior and festival attire coincided with the rise of the boho aesthetic. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 July 2025 The rest is all Aston Martin-quality craftsmanship, shaping the Vanquish into a taut, sleek form wrapped in formal attire. Alex Kalogiannis, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for attire

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French atirer to equip, prepare, attire, from a- (from Latin ad-) + tire order, rank, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English tīr glory, ornament

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of attire was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attire. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

attire

1 of 2 verb
at·​tire ə-ˈtī(ə)r How to pronounce attire (audio)
attired; attiring
: to put clothes and especially special or fine clothes on

attire

2 of 2 noun
: clothing sense 1
especially : fine clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on attire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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