Word
Definition
v. to make something look more beautiful by adding decorations to it.
v. to enhance the appearance of something by adding decorative elements or ornaments. Transitive; requires a direct object and often takes the preposition 'with'.
Examples
“They adorn the hall with flowers for the wedding.”
“The local residents adorn their windows with bright lights and wreaths every December.”
“Intricate gold leaf and vibrant frescoes adorn the ceiling of the cathedral, reflecting the immense wealth and artistic ambition of the era.”
Examples
simple
“They adorn the hall with flowers for the wedding.”
contextual
“The local residents adorn their windows with bright lights and wreaths every December.”
complex
“Intricate gold leaf and vibrant frescoes adorn the ceiling of the cathedral, reflecting the immense wealth and artistic ambition of the era.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and frequently appears in the passive voice ('is adorned with').
Real-World Examples
“A selection of jaunty coffee-related messages like “My one and only love: Americano” and “Miss you a latte,” adorn the side of the bus.” “About 20 years later, he followed in the footsteps of ceramicists from Ticul and began sculpting with clay and learned from other ceramicists about adorning pottery with organic pigments such as red and white.” “The tests showed that every tooth was mounted on resin gum from grass trees, which adorn the rocky slopes of the shelter today.” Etymology
From Middle English adornen, adournen, from Latin adōrnāre; from ad- + ōrnō (“furnish, embellish”). See adore, ornate. Replaced earlier Middle English aournen (“to adorn”) borrowed from Old French aorner, from the same Latin source.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/adorn
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0