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Meaning & use

clothed in

phrase·Advanced

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UK/ˌkləʊðd ˈɪn/
US/ˌkloʊðd ˈɪn/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Wearing a particular kind of clothing, especially something elegant, unusual, or described in a literary way.

    Grammar: Follows 'be' or another linking verb and takes a noun after 'in': was clothed in white.

    Patterns

    • be clothed in something
    • clothed in silk/white/light

    The bride was clothed in ivory silk from head to toe.

    In the painting, the queen is clothed in deep purple and gold.

    The dancers appeared clothed in nothing but ribbons and flowers.

  2. phrasefixed phrasefigurativeliterary

    Covered or surrounded by something, used figuratively for qualities, light, or an atmosphere.

    Grammar: Used with abstract nouns after 'in'; the subject is usually not a person.

    Patterns

    • be clothed in something
    • clothed in mystery/glory/shadow

    The whole valley was clothed in mist at dawn.

    His early years remain clothed in mystery.

    The old house stood clothed in ivy and silence.

Common combinations

clothed in white
All the guests were clothed in white for the ceremony.
clothed in silk
The statue is clothed in silk during the festival.
clothed in mystery
The origins of the manuscript are still clothed in mystery.
fully clothed
He fell asleep on the sofa fully clothed.

Synonyms and how they differ

dressed in
The everyday choice; it works for any clothing and any situation, while 'clothed in' sounds more literary.
wearing
Focuses on the item itself and is the most natural in speech: 'she was wearing silk'.
attired in
Even more formal and old-fashioned, often used humorously about elegant clothes.

Opposites

stripped ofbare

Word family

clothe verb
To put clothes on someone or provide clothes for them.
clothing noun
Clothes in general, especially as a category of goods.
clothes noun
The items people wear; always plural.

Commonly confused: clothed in or clothed? clothed in or closed in?

clothed in vs clothed

'Clothed' alone just means wearing clothes; the phrase 'clothed in' adds what the person is wearing.

clothed in vs closed in

Sounds similar but means surrounded or shut inside: 'we felt closed in by the trees'.

Practice

The mountain peaks were ___ cloud for most of the morning.

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