1
as in to dress
to put on one's best or formal clothes
we always like to dress up when going to parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to disguise
to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity
the war was a fiasco that the administration tried to dress up as a triumph
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to clothe
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes
the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses, but the boys were wearing jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dress up
One Halloween, my dad and I dressed up as Scooby and Shaggy.
—
Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 6 June 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t dress up the point.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026
Some of the resort offerings feel a little forced (or like an episode of White Lotus), especially the Haab dinner experience when locals dress up in traditional Maya garb and put on a performance to honor the four cardinal directions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Stith is asking attendees to dress up and wear green in honor of Words, Wings, and Wine's seventh anniversary.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 6 June 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t dress up the point.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026
Some of the resort offerings feel a little forced (or like an episode of White Lotus), especially the Haab dinner experience when locals dress up in traditional Maya garb and put on a performance to honor the four cardinal directions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Stith is asking attendees to dress up and wear green in honor of Words, Wings, and Wine's seventh anniversary.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Toss it in your carry-on for a seamless airport quick change before sightseeing, or dress it up with the nice pants and skirts in your travel wardrobe rotation.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
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Dream person to dress, dead or alive?—
Max Berlinger,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Don’t sleep on this two-piece lounge set, which is made with 100% cotton in a gauzy finish, ideal for disguising any wrinkles.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 June 2026
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Hufanga, who faced the Hill-Waddle tandem firsthand while playing for San Francisco back then, noted the duo’s ability to accelerate and decelerate to disguise in-breaking routes as deep routes and vice versa.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Feed a crowd at a Norwegian match with this recipe that uses candied orange peels, fresh orange zest and dark chocolate for a little sweetness no matter how the match is going.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
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The breakfast menu includes the regular items plus bacon-cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and candied jalapeño, blueberry pancakes, the ubiquitous avocado toast and juices.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
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After a sweet introduction from longtime friend and storied industry producer/musician Don Was, who talked about late-night visits to a Nashville Shoney's with the country icon, a humble Brooks, clad in his usual uniform of jeans and cowboy hat, walked the small stage holding a microphone.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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The brilliant reds and gold of the willows and poplars and the bright yellows and pale greens of frostbitten underbrush stood out against the backdrop of the mountain slopes, which were clad in the darker green of spruce and pine and topped with a fall of snow from the last few nights.—
Anton Money,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
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The store had to be closed for several days while volunteers set the dolls up for display, and only 25 shoppers could be allowed in at a time for viewing because of the dolls’ values.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Unlike an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, where the whiskey truly takes center stage, Branch Water is a lighter thanks to the brightness of the grapefruit, the refreshingness of the cucumber, and sparkling water that mellows everything out without masking the spirit altogether.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
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From a defensive standpoint, each element would be a plus-defender with the exception of Powell, which should make this lineup much easier to mask the deficiencies of a negative-defender, such as the ones with Herro.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Best Amazon Outlet Home Sales Memorial Day is the perfect time to spruce things up in and around your home.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
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According to Bauhus’s research, climate change has rendered the Black Forest largely uninhabitable to spruce.—
Kendra Atleework,
Longreads,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The show also figured out better than any show in recent memory how to adapt itself for a TV broadcast, with the kitties, as costumed by Tony winner Qween Jean, flitted all over the Radio City Musical Hall in New York, this year’s venue for the ceremony.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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Mance went on to praise his stars Paul Anthony Kelly (who played Kennedy) and Sarah Pidgeon (who played Bessette) for their endless willingness to participate in the costuming process.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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