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.
Bailey dressed down in a casual look which featured white jeans, a blue denim button-down shirt, a dark brown blazer and baseball hat. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 19 June 2025 They were given lectures on the First Amendment and dressed down on their language and behavior. Deborah Baker june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025 Or try the Luna Stretch Flare Jeans, $50 at Quince, for a pair of versatile jeans that can be dressed down or up. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025 In the snaps, Basinger dressed down for the occasion in an olive green jacket, black sweatpants, black sunglasses and an oversized straw hat and black sunglasses. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 May 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 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

dress down

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