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
Relevance
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
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.
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Recent Examples of dress up
Hardly anyone dresses up for the theater anymore, but my suit and I were ready for our close-up.
—
Eric Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
But those are only a few ways to dress up this classic recipe.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
As the sun sets, diners dig into burgers dressed up like banh mi, with pickled daikon, rich duck liver mousse, and a burst of cilantro.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
The sleek leather instantly dressed up a pair of jeans and gave my outfits a more high-fashion look.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Eric Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
But those are only a few ways to dress up this classic recipe.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
As the sun sets, diners dig into burgers dressed up like banh mi, with pickled daikon, rich duck liver mousse, and a burst of cilantro.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
The sleek leather instantly dressed up a pair of jeans and gave my outfits a more high-fashion look.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Julia was dressed in a chic oversized suit (her specialty) and heeled boots and a white striped tie, while Roberts wore a semi-sheer black gown with minimal jewelry.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
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During this year’s All-Star Weekend, Colson did a stand-up comedy routine, opening for Leslie Jones and Cedric the Entertainer; Brooks dressed her in an all-leather getup from designer Karl Kani, the same designer Dave Chappelle wore in his classic 1993 Just For Laughs set.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Was Barron there, but just really good at disguising his six-foot-seven frame?—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Try bicycles for more exercise disguised as fun, then saunter over to Spa La Quinta’s 23,000 square feet of bliss.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The finish is long and satisfying, layering cinnamon-vanilla frosting and candied orange with waves of sweet oak and a lingering touch of allspice, according to a news release.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This magnificent fruit can be candied, bobbed, picked and pied.—
Lorenza Medley,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Designed by Foster + Partners, the restaurant is striking, clad entirely in rare white onyx across the floors, walls, and tables.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The exterior is clad in wood and topped with a metal roof.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Always one for innovation, MacKenzie-Childs has been known to doll up its hero products in a vast variety of designs to suit every last stylistic preference.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
17 July 2025
-
Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Using self-control solely to avoid rejection or to mask one’s authentic self can be counterproductive.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Lots of trees and other vegetation will mask the center’s five, 270,000-square-foot buildings from neighbors, Jones said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
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Today’s Amazon deals are all about sprucing things up: your desktop setup, your tablet experience, and your audio at home or the beach.—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Defense camouflaging more blemishes than Revlon.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
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All these possibilities can camouflage fences in the background.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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