dress down
verb
dressed down; dressing down; dresses down
: to reprove severely
: to dress casually especially for reasons of fashion
Examples of dress down in a Sentence
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
Recent Examples on the Web
These timeless styles look polished, but can easily be dressed down with a tee and sneakers.
—
Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
With its refined silhouette, subtle logo detailing, and classic colors—from black to a fall-ready burgundy—the elegant accessory can be dressed down for coffee runs and classed up for date nights.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Even now, as a bonafide fashion success, with the Victoria Beckham label undergoing four years of consistent growth resulting in over £100 million in annual sales, she’s mostly dressed down in quiet luxury hoodies in the documentary.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Mellencamp, 44, sported a loose-fitting jumpsuit, Prada crossbody bag and a black baseball cap, while Rea, who was holding a tablet in his hand, dressed down in athletic shorts and a white T-shirt.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
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.
Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
With its refined silhouette, subtle logo detailing, and classic colors—from black to a fall-ready burgundy—the elegant accessory can be dressed down for coffee runs and classed up for date nights.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Even now, as a bonafide fashion success, with the Victoria Beckham label undergoing four years of consistent growth resulting in over £100 million in annual sales, she’s mostly dressed down in quiet luxury hoodies in the documentary.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Mellencamp, 44, sported a loose-fitting jumpsuit, Prada crossbody bag and a black baseball cap, while Rea, who was holding a tablet in his hand, dressed down in athletic shorts and a white T-shirt.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
Cite this Entry
“Dress down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20down. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share