# decorate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈdɛkəɹeɪt/ · frequency rank #18,056

## Definitions
1. To furnish with decorations.
2. To improve the appearance of an interior of, as a house, room, or office.
3. To improve the appearance of an interior of, as a house, room, or office.
4. To honor by providing a medal, ribbon, or other adornment.
5. To extend a method, etc. by attaching some further code item.

## Etymology
From Middle English decorat (“adorned”), from Latin decorātus, perfect passive participle of decorō (“to adorn, distinguish, honor”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from decus (“ornament, grace, dignity, honor”, decor- in compounds), akin to decor (“elegance, grace, beauty, ornament”), from decet (“adorn, befit”).

## Easily confused with
- **desolate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-desolate)
- **detonate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-detonate)
- **decorated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-decorated)
- **doctorate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-doctorate)
- **decorator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-decorator)
- **decorative** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decorate-vs-decorative)

## Common misspellings (11)
`dceorate`, `ddecorate`, `deccorate`, `decoarte`, `decoraet`, `decoratte`, `decorrate`, `decortae`, `decroate`, `deocrate`, `edcorate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decorate