1
as in adorns
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
the whole house had been done up for Halloween
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clothes
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
on Wild West Day some of the women came to the office done up as showgirls, while the men were mostly outlaws
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wears
to use up all the physical energy of
all of this fussing about the wedding has done me up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for does up
Verb
-
Entry comes with a tug on the giant calligraphy brush that adorns the doorway.—
Melinda Sheckells,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026 -
His face adorns a banner at the Department of Justice’s headquarters, among others.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Among the first illustrators Vicki represented was Robert Grossman, who eventually became Annie’s dad — his art still decorates the walls.—
Anne Kadet,
Curbed,
15 May 2026
-
My cabin had a neutral-toned color scheme with decor in varying shades of beige and a dark navy carpet, which was a nice contrast to the vibrant art that decorates most of the ship.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hannah dresses less like a modern college student and more like how an older generation remembers quirky girls dressing in their own late teens and early twenties.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
-
Shadbolt cleverly blitzes a bit of black walnut into a vinaigrette that dresses a spray of watercress on the side, adding an unexpected layer of harmony.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Brine is a super-concentrated, suffocating saltwater sludge, which kills marine life.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
-
Israeli strike kills 12, including several relatives Meanwhile, an Israeli security official said the military called up an additional battalion to Lebanon, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Creamy Parmesan sauce dresses up bowtie pasta, collard greens, asparagus, and peas for a simple and nutritious main course.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These men are supported by Nancy, a woman who dresses up in a nurse’s costume but seems to have no medical training.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Consider this your guide to eating like Colagreco does in the French (and Italian) Riviera.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And that’s exactly what Kay does in a new promotional campaign for YES Network that debuted on Friday, preceding the channel’s first broadcast of the Yankees’ 2026 season.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As the oil blockade quickly exhausts Cuba’s supply of fuel, triggering a series of lengthy, island-wide blackouts, many here are exhausted and are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for fundamental changes in Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Does up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/does%20up. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
