do up

verb

did up; done up; doing up; does up

transitive verb

1
: fasten
do up the buttons of a shirt
… an elderly lady with her jacket done up tightly against the wind …Sue Lloyd-Roberts
2
a
: to deck (someone) out : clothe
The waitstaff was done up in western attire.
b
: to furnish (something) with something ornamental : decorate
She always does up the house for the holidays.
3
: to prepare (something) for wear or use (as by cleaning or repairing)
"… I'll make the pies and lady fingers tomorrow and do up my white muslin dress. …"Lucy Maud Montgomery
4
a
: to wrap (something) up
do up a package
b
: to prepare and preserve (something) for later use : can entry 2, put up
I did up a bushel of tomatoes.
5
: exhaust, wear out
This contact with righteousness has about done me up!Sinclair Lewis

Examples of do up in a Sentence

the whole house had been done up for Halloween on Wild West Day some of the women came to the office done up as showgirls, while the men were mostly outlaws
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The interior is a little more restrained, with the two-seat cabin done up mainly in black and exposed carbon fiber, though the six-point harnesses on the racing seats do feature bold yellow accents. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025 Three other bone grafts are awaiting transplantation, a procedure that can be done up to five years after donation. Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025 After all, though TikTok may tell you that everyone is doing up their dorm rooms at the cost of roughly a new car, in reality, the average family spend (according to a RetailMeNot poll) is a much less jaw-dropping $598. Alex Apatoff, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Ivor was doing up his tie on the morning of the funeral when his father-in-law walked into the living room. Anne Enright, New Yorker, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for do up

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of do up was in 1666

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Cite this Entry

“Do up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do%20up. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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