Word
dons
US/ˈdɑnz/
UK/dˈɒnz/
Definition
v. to put on a piece of clothing. It is a more formal way to say you are dressing yourself.
v. to put on or dress oneself in an item of clothing. A contraction of 'do on', it is typically used in literary or formal contexts.
Examples
“He dons his coat before heading out into the cold.”
“The graduates wait in the hall to don their ceremonial robes before the procession begins.”
“In a display of renewed authority, the monarch would don the heavy crown only for the most significant state occasions, preferring lighter headwear for daily duties.”
Examples
simple
“He dons his coat before heading out into the cold.”
contextual
“The graduates wait in the hall to don their ceremonial robes before the procession begins.”
complex
“In a display of renewed authority, the monarch would don the heavy crown only for the most significant state occasions, preferring lighter headwear for daily duties.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually a specific garment.
Pitfall
He dons on his hat
He dons his hat
The verb 'don' already means 'put on'; adding the preposition 'on' is redundant.
Real-World Examples
Common in sport writing
“The show proceeds with the fluid choreography of Positions before Grande dons her famous bunny ears for a slinky version of The Boy Is Mine.” “In one image , she dons a set of false teeth and strikes a silly pose, even as Olga sleeps in the background.” “Last night, senior dons at Cambridge demanded an inquiry be held .” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dons