WordGarden.iodisrobe
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪsrˈəʊb/
US
- /dɪsˈroʊb/verb
Meanings
Verb
to remove clothes from oneself or another person
Beyond the definition
To disrobe means to take off your clothes. It is more formal than "to undress" and often sounds calm, careful, or a bit old-fashioned. You might see it in stories set in the past, or hear it in polite instructions, like at a clinic or a spa. Someone might disrobe before a bath, before bed, or to change into a gown.
In everyday conversation, most people just say "get changed" or "take your clothes off." But in a novel, a character who "disrobed" can feel like they are entering a private moment—getting ready to rest, wash, or step into a new setting.
Disrobe means to remove clothing, especially in a somewhat formal, careful, or literary way. It can describe taking off clothes completely or partly (for example, removing a coat and layers, or taking off everything before a bath). It can also be used when someone is asked to remove clothing for a practical reason, such as a medical exam: “Please disrobe from the waist up.”
You might see it used a few different ways:
- By itself: “He disrobed and stepped into the bath.”
- With “herself/himself”: “She disrobed herself behind the screen.”
- With a direct object (less common): “The attendant disrobed the child and helped him into pajamas.”
You will find "disrobe" in literature and historical writing when the author wants a certain mood or distance. It can highlight a character’s pace and intention: “She slowly disrobed, preparing for sleep,” or “He disrobed quickly, eager to escape the heat.”
While it is not a common everyday word, it can suggest a moment of transition: getting ready, becoming more private, or moving from one role to another. Writers sometimes use it figuratively, but that use is rare and usually poetic (for example, “winter disrobed the trees”).
So, while "undress" is the usual everyday word, "disrobe" often sounds more formal and scene-setting—an intentional removing of layers, sometimes with a hint of ceremony or meaning.
Examples
- 1
Medical instruction
Please disrobe and put on this gown before the doctor comes in.
- Usage
disrobe is quite formal; in everyday English, people often say get undressed or take your clothes off
- 2
Medical examination
The doctor asked her to disrobe from the waist up for the examination.
- Phrasefrom the waist up
only the upper part of the body
- 3
Performance
In the final scene, the actor slowly disrobes before stepping into the bath.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- disrobeverb
Forms
- disrobedpast tenseverb
- disrobing-ing formverb
- disrobesverb