dressing

noun

dress·​ing ˈdre-siŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of one who dresses

b

: an instance of such act or process

2

a

: a sauce for adding to a dish (such as a salad)

b

: a seasoned mixture usually used as a stuffing (as for poultry)

3

a

: material (such as ointment or gauze) applied to cover a lesion or wound

b

: fertilizing material (such as manure or compost)

Synonyms

• plaster

Examples of dressing in a Sentence

We had turkey with dressing and potatoes for dinner.

The nurse cleaned the cut and applied a dressing.

Recent Examples on the Web

The brand specializes in day-to-night dressing, and more than half of the collection — from the knitwear to the silk tops — is machine washable. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025

Vogue's Favorite Foliage Pieces Fall dressing invites you to embrace the surrounding landscape, with the textures matching the richness of the colors. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025

The fundamental ingredients in this recipe consist of chuck or beef roast, butter, soup or gravy flavoring mix, ranch dressing mix, and pepperoncini peppers. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025

The company features iconic product names such as Heinz ketchup, Grey Poupon mustard, and a portfolio of hot sauces, dressings, and condiments. —Joe Cornell, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dressing

• cross-dressing
• dressing-down
• dressing glass
• dressing gown
• dressing room
• dressing table
• French dressing
• house (salad) dressing
• Italian dressing
• ore dressing
• ranch dressing
• Russian dressing
• salad dressing
• side dressing
• Thousand Island dressing
• top dressing
• window dressing

Rhymes for dressing

• blessing
• guessing
• messing
• pressing
• stressing
• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• depressing

Kids Definition

dressing

noun

dress·​ing ˈdres-iŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of one that dresses

b

: an instance of dressing

2

a

: a sauce for adding to a dish

b

: a seasoned mixture used as a stuffing (as for poultry) or baked and served separately

3

a

: material (as ointment or gauze) used to cover an injury

b

: fertilizing material (as manure or compost)

Medical Definition

dressing

noun

dress·​ing -iŋ 

: a covering (as of ointment or gauze) applied to a lesion