decorate

decorate — verb

1. to add objects, colors, or patterns to a space or object so that it becomes more

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to add objects, colors, or patterns to a space or object so that it becomes more pleasant or festive to look at

Example

Renata decorated the living room with balloons for the party.

decorate + [room] + with + [objects] + for + [occasion]

The children decorated the tree with paper stars and coloured lights.

Common collocations
  • decorate with flowers
  • decorate for Christmas
  • decorate the room
  • decorate the cake
  • beautifully decorated
  • tastefully decorated
Synonyms
  • adorn

    more formal and poetic; used for crowns, temples, or people's appearance rather than everyday spaces

  • embellish

    emphasises adding fine details; also means exaggerating a story

  • garnish

    restricted to food and drink presentation

Grammar Patterns

decorate + [place/thing] + with + [objects]

decorate + for + [occasion/event]

Usage Note

The object used for decoration typically follows 'with' (decorate with flowers); the occasion or purpose follows 'for' (decorate for Christmas). Unlike sense 2, this sense names what is added rather than just stating that painting or wallpapering was done.

Common Mistakes

I decorated on the Christmas tree.
I decorated the Christmas tree.
Decorate takes a direct object without a preposition.
She decorated her dress with.
She decorated her dress with flowers.
When using 'with', you must name the decorative items.

2. to improve the appearance of an indoor space by painting its walls, covering the

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to improve the appearance of an indoor space by painting its walls, covering them with wallpaper, or making similar alterations

Example

We spent the weekend decorating the bathroom with light blue paint.

decorate + [room] + with + [type of paint]

The landlord decorated the flat just before the new family moved in.

Common collocations
  • decorate the bedroom
  • decorate the kitchen
  • decorate the flat
  • decorate the house
  • decorate with paint
  • newly decorated
Synonyms
  • paint

    more specific — only refers to applying paint, not wallpaper or other materials

  • paper

    verb meaning to cover walls with wallpaper; more specific than decorate

  • redo

    informal and general; can refer to any renovation, not just paint and wallpaper

Grammar Patterns

decorate + [room/house/building]

decorate + [room] + with + [paint/wallpaper]

Usage Note

This sense is common in British English, where 'decorate' alone implies painting or wallpapering. American English tends to specify 'paint' or 'paper' instead. The transitive form (decorate the bedroom) is more frequent than the intransitive (We're decorating this week).

Common Mistakes

I decorated the wall on paper.
I put wallpaper on the wall.' or 'I papered the wall.
'Decorate' does not take 'on' as a preposition for the material.

3. to officially give someone a medal or other public award to recognise their brav

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to officially give someone a medal or other public award to recognise their brave actions, long service, or special achievements

Example

The soldier was decorated for bravery after rescuing his fellow troops.

passive: be decorated for [achievement]

Indra was decorated with a medal for thirty years of teaching.

passive: be decorated with [medal] for [service]

Common collocations
  • decorated for bravery
  • decorated for service
  • decorated with a medal
  • decorated posthumously
  • be decorated by the president
Synonyms
  • honour

    broader meaning — covers medals, titles, public recognition, or any form of respect shown

  • cite

    more specific to military commendations; often followed by 'for bravery'

  • award

    more general; can apply to prizes, scholarships, or medals without the formal ceremony implied by decorate

Grammar Patterns

be decorated for + [achievement/bravery/service]

be decorated with + [medal/award]

decorate + [person] + with + [medal]

Usage Note

Almost always used in the passive voice — the active form ('The queen decorated him') is rare. The person receives the honour, not the action itself. Distinguish from sense 1: a room is decorated with ornaments, but a person is decorated with a medal.

Common Mistakes

The company decorated the employee for good work.
The employee was decorated for good work.
The medal-awarding sense is typically passive; active voice sounds unnatural.
The team decorated the player with a prize.
The player was decorated with a medal.
Use 'medal' or 'award', not 'prize'. 'Decorate' in this sense implies official recognition, not a contest prize.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words share the idea of adding something to make something more attractive, but each is used in a different area. Adorn is more formal and poetic — you would adorn a crown with jewels, not your living room with balloons. Garnish is almost exclusively about food: you garnish a dish with herbs or lemon. Embellish can mean adding decorative detail to an object, but it more commonly means exaggerating a story. Ornament as a verb is rare today and sounds old-fashioned; the noun 'ornament' is far more frequent. Decorate is the everyday choice for parties, homes, cakes, and gifts. To say 'She adorned her notebook with stickers' sounds oddly formal; 'She decorated her notebook with stickers' sounds natural.

adorngarnishembellishornament ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • decorate for [occasion]
  • decorate with [objects]
  • decorate in [colour/style]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Decorate comes from Latin 'decoratus', the past participle of 'decorare' meaning to adorn or beautify, which in turn comes from 'decus' (ornament, honour) and is related to 'decet' (it is fitting). The word entered English in the 15th century. The 'paint a house' sense (sense 2) developed in 19th-century British English, while the 'award a medal' sense (sense 3) appeared around the same time, drawing on the older idea of honouring someone.