dress down

verb

dressed down; dressing down; dresses down

transitive verb

: to reprove severely

intransitive verb

: 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
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.
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 The timeless look is versatile enough for dressing down with a pair of jeans and a sweater or elevating with a maxi dress and some gold jewelry. Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025 The 26-year-old Brit is eating a piece of salami backstage at her venue in Edinburgh, dressed down in a baseball hat from the International Spy Museum, a memento from a recent stop in Washington, D.C. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025 His post-match dressing down after the 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on August 31 seems to have paid off. Pol Ballús, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dress down

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dress down was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dress down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20down. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

dress down

verb
1
: to criticize severely
2
: to dress casually
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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