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dress up

verb

Definition of dress upnext
1
as in to dress
to put on one's best or formal clothes we always like to dress up when going to parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to disguise
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to candy
to make more desirable dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to clothe
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dress up Satin, in particular, has emerged as one of the season’s most versatile trends, offering the comfort of loungewear with the effortless ability to dress up. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2026 It also been dressed up in a carbon-fiber aero kit that includes vents, fender flares, and a more prominent rear spoiler. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026 Character studies There was a phase when the parks played dress up with me. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 The baggy style and light wash can be dressed up with heels or down with sneakers. — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
  1. dress
  2. disguise
  3. candy
  4. clothe
  5. doll up
  6. mask
  7. spruce
  8. costume
Verb
  • The final images include Farrell emerging from a luxury sedan at night and Johnson looking haunted at what appears to be a party and then all three, dressed in all black, in a lounge.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
  • With its golf ambassadors, Peter Millar still tends to focus on promoting its golfwear — with a few exceptions, such as an event in the Hamptons last year with Cameron Young where the PGA Tour pro showed up dressed in the brand’s lifestyle product.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of dress
Verb
  • When not typing tracts disguised as novels, Sinclair ran regularly and unsuccessfully for political office — the House, the Senate, and, in 1930, the governor of California.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • But in order to disguise what is afoot, in a party-line vote in both houses of the General Assembly, Democrats prescribed the precise language that must appear on the ballot informing the voters what Question 3 will do, if passed.
    — Chris West, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of disguise
Verb
  • Brushed with seasoned butter and topped with bacon ranch, green onion, and candied jalapeños.
    — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Customers who want waffles at No Knife will pay anywhere from $15 for a plain one to $45 for a waffle topped with collard greens, candied yams, and mac and cheese.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of candy
Verb
  • The Sun, who now begin the process of relocating to Houston for next season, gave their loyal, vociferous and orange-clad fans a goodbye present, a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo, just a little something to remember them by.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The curls, which spiraled around her, were arguably louder than the print she was clad in.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of clothe
Verb
  • Hanging out was one thing, but the group also wanted to doll up the Potter franchise’s Ron Weasley.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
  • And Millie Bobby Brown echoed a similar sentiment on her story, sharing Hottle's memorable shot holding a handmade King Kong doll up to the giant ape.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of doll up
Verb
  • Furthermore, many existing treatments for endometriosis simply mask pain without addressing its underlying source.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Some of these woes have been masked by higher movie ticket prices — which are expected to help boost the domestic box office above $10 billion for the first time since the pandemic — but the moviegoing industry is still adapting to new economics.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of mask
Verb
  • If your outdoor space has been looking a little tired from the summer sun and storms, consider this your sign to spruce things up before the next season is in full swing.
    — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Prince Harry even spruced the place up to Meghan’s liking while the couple was dating, per People, and proposed to her in the walled garden outside of the cottage in 2017.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Definition of spruce
Verb
  • Neither did costume historians who worried about potential damage to the fragile dress.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The long lineup of contests includes yodeling, stein holding, beer belly, costume and culminates each day in the best chicken dancer competition.
    — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of costume

Browse Nearby Words

dress rehearsals
dress up
dressy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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