plural dress-ups
1
: a time or occasion for which fancy or formal clothing is worn
Miller used to favor high-necked lace blouses for dress-up and fishing hats for play.—
Curry Kirkpatrick
Curry KirkpatrickMarla feels comfiest in jeans and sweats but likes soft beiges for dress-up.—People Weekly
People WeeklyAlso like their parents, children want a wardrobe that is suitable for a variety of activities: play, school and dress-up.—Andrea Skinner
Andrea Skinner2
: a game or activity (as for children) that involves dressing up in special clothing or costumes
Most young children like to play dress-up, parading around the house in their dad's wing tips or smearing their mom's lipstick all over their face.—Christine Gorman
Christine GormanNina was petite but too muscular to wear her mother's cast-off Chanel. She was like a girl playing dress-up.—Tom Jenks
Tom JenksI drew pictures with her and played dress-up with our mother's party gowns.—Lorene Cary
Lorene CarySo get in the spirit with these costume parties, haunted tours, pet dress-ups, … and haunted houses.—Cincinnati.com
Cincinnati.com
dressed up; dressing up; dresses up
1
: to make more attractive, glamorous, or fancy
dress up a plain dessert with a rich chocolate sauce
2
a
: to attire in best or formal clothes
b
: to attire in clothes suited to a particular role
3
: to present in the most attractive or impressive light
a fiasco dressed up as a triumph
: to get dressed up
Examples of dress-up in a Sentence
Verb
we always like to dress up when going to parties
the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph
Recent Examples on the Web
Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
And trying to play dress-up as a clay-court specialist for eight weeks of the year is little more than a waste of time.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Clara McMahon, People.com, 24 June 2025
Police were called to Disneyland Paris over a fake wedding involving a child dressed up as a bride.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress-up
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Noun
On June 12, there a dress-up with Pride at the group’s location, 201 Washington St.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
And trying to play dress-up as a clay-court specialist for eight weeks of the year is little more than a waste of time.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Verb
The 52-year-old actress dressed up a comfy-looking pair of roomy (but not baggy) jeans this week, proving that wider styles are better for beating the heat.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 24 June 2025
Police were called to Disneyland Paris over a fake wedding involving a child dressed up as a bride.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress-up
Cite this Entry
“Dress-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress-up. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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