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
Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
But these parties had everything: America’s most glamorous friend group playing dress-up, the pop star riding on an inflatable swan in her pool, and the reminder that the rest of us simply would never find ourselves on the guest list.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 4 July 2025
Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
Shoppers are going for light and airy styles to beat the heat, like this stylish midi dress that looks easy to dress up or down, along with these breathable linen trousers for everyday wear.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress-up
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.
Noun
Another legacy brand is the venerable Cunard (No. 2), with its traditional White Star service, ballrooms where real dress-up balls take place, and regular roster of transatlantic voyages.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
But these parties had everything: America’s most glamorous friend group playing dress-up, the pop star riding on an inflatable swan in her pool, and the reminder that the rest of us simply would never find ourselves on the guest list.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
Stylishly cropped at the ankle, they can be dressed up or down, and the two deep pockets are great for storing smaller items.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
Shoppers are going for light and airy styles to beat the heat, like this stylish midi dress that looks easy to dress up or down, along with these breathable linen trousers for everyday wear.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 5 July 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 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share