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
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.
Recent Examples of dress up
In 2019, Cohen celebrated Benjamin’s very first Halloween by dressing up as Snoopy and Woodstock.
—
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Clateman, who has scraggly chops, a patterned scarf wrapped around his neck, and a gray button-up—like a hippie dressed up for Picture Day—coaxes her into talking.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
In my personal toy hall of fame are my childhood Barbies, plastic tea set, and trunk full of dress up clothes.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Even in San Andrés Mixquic, known for its traditional celebrations, some wear the sort of spooky Halloween costumes sold in the United States, although local families themselves do not dress up.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Clateman, who has scraggly chops, a patterned scarf wrapped around his neck, and a gray button-up—like a hippie dressed up for Picture Day—coaxes her into talking.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
In my personal toy hall of fame are my childhood Barbies, plastic tea set, and trunk full of dress up clothes.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Even in San Andrés Mixquic, known for its traditional celebrations, some wear the sort of spooky Halloween costumes sold in the United States, although local families themselves do not dress up.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
-
The barely believable but entirely true story saw gay rights activists trick their way into the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London by dressing plainly and conservatively – one even went as far as dressing as nun, while another donned the garbs of a bishop.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The room at the Art Hotel in Victoria Island was dressed with intention—well-lit and humming with purpose, every detail considered.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Drape one across your mantel to disguise your stocking hardware, or greet guests with a front door wreath that helps to create a welcoming entrance.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Iranian exporters often transfer cargoes between shadow fleet vessels—at times with the aid of tugboats—in the Persian Gulf and in waters off the coast of Singapore and Malaysia in order to disguise the origin of their cargoes.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Warm, spicy notes from ground and candied ginger bring brightness to the rich, slightly bitter cocoa dough, while chunks of bittersweet chocolate add melty pockets of indulgence.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Fresh lime juice: Avoid bottled lime juice, which just won't have the same brightness as freshly squeezed. Don't skip the garnish: Finish the drink with lime wedges, a sprig of mint, or candied ginger for extra flair.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hardwood floors harmonize with dark wood furnishings and wicker accents, alongside bathrooms clad in custom Portuguese azulejos-style tiles.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
He was found by a passerby in an alley on Pennsylvania Road, bleeding from the head and only partially clothed.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
Having help on both sides has helped his performance, though the move has masked some of his technical deficiencies and overall rawness as a player.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And the foundation appears to be lying to publishers about this—as well as masking the actual contents of its archives.—
Alex Reisner,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The 34-mile road winds through several ecosystems from cove hardwood to northern hardwood to pine oak to spruce fir.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Today’s Amazon deals are all about sprucing things up: your desktop setup, your tablet experience, and your audio at home or the beach.—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
This could be because the natural activity of supermassive black holes and the emissions that come from the accretion disk around them can camouflage TDEs.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
When asked about this tactic, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that the agency believes its employees are not camouflaging their identities.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share