DON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

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don

(dɒn )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense dons , present participle donning , past tense, past participle donned

1.verb

If you don clothing, you put it on.

[written]

The crowd threw petrol bombs at the police, who responded by donning riot gear. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: put on, get into, dress in, pull on More Synonyms of don

2.countable noun

A don is a lecturer at Oxford or Cambridge University in England.

Lecturers from any university are sometimes referred to as dons.

[British]

More Synonyms of don

don in British English 1

(dɒn )

verbWord forms: dons, donning, donned

(transitive)

to put on (clothing)

Word origin

C14: from do1 + on; compare doff

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don in British English 2

(dɒn )

noun

1. British

a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, esp at Oxford or Cambridge

the head of a student dormitory at certain Canadian universities and colleges

a Spanish gentleman or nobleman

(in the Mafia) the head of a family

Word origin

C17: ultimately from Latin dominus lord

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Don in British English 1

(dɒn , Spanish don )

noun

a Spanish title equivalent to Mr: placed before a name to indicate respect

Word origin

Don in British English 2

(dɒn )

noun

a river rising in W Russia, southeast of Tula and flowing generally south, to the Sea of Azov: linked by canal to the River Volga. Length: 1870 km (1162 miles)

a river in NE Scotland, rising in the Cairngorm Mountains and flowing east to the North Sea. Length: 100 km (62 miles)

a river in N central England, rising in S Yorkshire and flowing northeast to the Humber. Length: about 96 km (60 miles)

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Don in American English 1

(dɑn )

noun

Sir; Mr.: a Spanish title of respect, used with the given name: abbrev. D

Don Pedro

2. [d-]

a Spanish nobleman or gentleman

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Don in American English 2

(dɑn ; Russian dɔn )

river in SC European Russia, flowing southward into the Sea of Azov: c. 1,200 mi (1,931 km)

Word origin

Russ: see Danube

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don in American English 1

(dɑn )

verb transitiveWord forms: donned or ˈdonning

to put on (a garment, etc.); dress in (a certain color or material)

Word origin

contr. of do on

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don in American English 2

(dɑn )

noun

a distinguished man

2. British

a head, tutor, or fellow of a college or university, esp. at Oxford or Cambridge

an important Mafia leader

Word origin

Sp < L domnus, contr. < dominus, master: see dominate

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don in American English 1

(dɑn, Spanish & Italian dɔn)

noun

1.(cap)

Mr.; Sir: a Spanish title prefixed to a man's given name

2.(in Spanish-speaking countries)

a lord or gentleman

3.(cap)

an Italian title of address, esp. for a priest

a person of great importance

5.(in the English universities)

a head, fellow, or tutor of a college

6.(in the Mafia)

a head of a family or syndicate

Word origin

[1515–25; ‹ Sp, It ‹ L dominus]

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don in American English 2

(dɑn)

transitive verbWord forms: donned, donning

to put on or dress in

to don one's clothes

Word origin

[1560–70; contr. of do1 + on; cf. doff]

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don in American English 3

(doun)

conjunction

(in prescriptions)

until

Word origin

[by shortening of donec]

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Don in American English 1

(dɑn)

noun

a male given name, form of Donald

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Don in American English 2

(dɔn)

noun

(in Welsh legend)

a goddess, the mother of Gwydion and Arianrod: corresponds to the Irish Danu

Examples of 'don' in a sentence

don

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He donned a costume to look like a health worker.

The Guardian (2020)

Particularly when the film-maker dons his leather jacket.

The Guardian (2016)

Once you've measured your risk you can decide whether or not you want to don a helmet.

The Guardian (2018)

And always, always don your life jacket at sea.

The Guardian (2022)

Instead, emboldened, he set his sights on becoming a history don.

The Guardian (2019)

He also donned a ginger wig for the fancy dress bar crawl.

The Sun (2016)

To redeem himself, he does agree to don a Santa suit and wear a little red bow on his head without looking too embarrassed.

Times, Sunday Times (2016)

Would you don the powdered wig, the tweed dress and the pearls?

Times, Sunday Times (2009)

And a pathologist is expected to don a protective mask before carrying out a post-mortem.

The Sun (2010)

But you can also swim with turtles, or don scuba gear and explore the corals and colourful fish of the deep.

Times, Sunday Times (2016)

Word lists with

don

Celtic Breeds of horse river

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which river am I?

a river in central India, rising in the Western Ghats and flowing southeast to the Bay of Bengal: extensive delta, linked by canal with the Krishna delta; a sacred river to Hindus. Length: about 1500 km (900 miles)

Ganges Godavari Nile

Which river am I?

a river in central Europe, rising in the Sudeten Mountains, in the Czech Republic, and flowing south through Slovakia to the Danube: forms part of the border between the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. Length: 370 km (230 miles)

Inn Morava Nile

Which river am I?

a river in E Asia, rising in N North Korea and flowing southwest to Korea Bay, forming a large part of the border between North Korea and NE China. Length: 806 km (501 miles)

Mekong Orinoco Yalu

Which river am I?

a river in W Asia, rising in NE Turkey and flowing across Georgia and Azerbaijan to the Caspian Sea. Length: 1515 km (941 miles)

Euphrates Kura Nile

Which river am I?

a river in SE Europe, rising in NW Slovenia and flowing east and south to the Danube at Belgrade. Length: 940 km (584 miles)

Mississippi Nile Sava

Your score:

COBUILD Collocations

don

don a headset

don a helmet

don a mantle

don a mask

don a suit

don a uniform

DON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

don

don in British English 1

don in British English 2

Don in British English 1

Don in British English 2

Don in American English 1

Don in American English 2

don in American English 1

don in American English 2

don in American English 1

don in American English 2

don in American English 3

Don in American English 1

Don in American English 2

Examples of 'don' in a sentence

Word lists with

COBUILD Collocations

References