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
Many fairgoers dress up on their own, fitting in with the middle-of-the-second-millennium mood of the event and taking part in daily costume competitions.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Crafted from a drapey, four-way stretch Swift fabric for effortless wear on the go, the Breezily Mid-rise Pants feel like your favorite pajamas reimagined in a refined, elegant silhouette that looks polished dressed up or down.
—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
28 June 2026
Pepper’s understands that a hot dog should be fun, dressed up and full of flavor.
—
Justin Brown,
AJC.com,
27 June 2026
Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Crafted from a drapey, four-way stretch Swift fabric for effortless wear on the go, the Breezily Mid-rise Pants feel like your favorite pajamas reimagined in a refined, elegant silhouette that looks polished dressed up or down.
—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
28 June 2026
Pepper’s understands that a hot dog should be fun, dressed up and full of flavor.
—
Justin Brown,
AJC.com,
27 June 2026
Fair highlights Despite the ongoing issues, the sparse number of visitors entertained themselves with interactive exhibits, like dressing up as former President George Washington or speaking with an actress portraying Betsy Ross.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Style yours casually for daytime, then dress it up for fancy dinners.
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Because a robot cannot yet dress itself, zippers, snaps, magnets and detachable modular pieces make each garment easy to put on, remove and maintain.
Verb
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Defying the restrictions placed on women of her era, Umm Kulthum first performed disguised as a boy before rising to dominate the stages of Cairo and captivate audiences across the globe.
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Shadow fleet vessels disguise their identity and purpose through a broad range of deceptive activities, including spoofing their locations and destinations.
Verb
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Baking bread with a zesty hint of lemon peel intermixed with complex notes of chamomile and candied violets.
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Most candied nut recipes call for a low-and-slow bake in the oven, but this recipe cooks quickly on the stove.
Verb
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Ed Sheeran strides to Taylor Swift wedding Ed Sheeran, clad in a bright aqua blue suit, arrived holding hands with wife Cherry Seaborn.
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Craig Cutright, clad in khakis and a light gray blazer, sat behind Machado.
Verb
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Looking to doll up your collarbones instead?
Verb
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Modern cynicism, associated with distrust, masks its ancient Greek origins, which offer valuable leadership lessons.
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Baking soda neutralizes odors instead of masking them, binding with the compounds that actually cause smells rather than covering them up.
Verb
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Prince Harry even spruced the place up to Meghan’s liking while the couple was dating, per People, and proposed to her in the walled garden outside of the cottage in 2017.
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And these pieces don’t need much to spruce them up either.
Verb
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Stewart recounted New York’s enthusiastic reaction to the Knicks winning, including the appearance of multiple Spider-Man costumes, a dancing MTA bus driver, and a drum line.
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Indeed, Green throws off a kind of 1970s Wonder Woman vibe at times, especially given how she is costumed by Theresa Ham, and that adds to the fun.
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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