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
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Recent Examples of dress up
Or your high school civics teacher, dressed up as a rock god to impart a lesson about basic decency?
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Dozens of performers add to the atmosphere, as do the many visitors who dress up for the event.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Celebrating Luke's milestone 40th birthday, the brothers — as well as their parents, Craig and Leonie — dressed up fancy for the festivities.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The real heist of The Christophers is that Soderbergh snuck such a bittersweet tale into cinemas, dressed up as a silly caper.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Dozens of performers add to the atmosphere, as do the many visitors who dress up for the event.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Celebrating Luke's milestone 40th birthday, the brothers — as well as their parents, Craig and Leonie — dressed up fancy for the festivities.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
The real heist of The Christophers is that Soderbergh snuck such a bittersweet tale into cinemas, dressed up as a silly caper.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Cops are looking for a man last seen fleeing the scene on a scooter dressed in black and wearing a ski mask.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
This matching linen-blend set makes getting dressed a breeze.—
Aashna Gheewalla,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two struggling male musicians witness a mob murder and flee by disguising themselves as women in an all-female jazz band.—
Rick Mauch
April 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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Thanks to a new English book from Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge, the action is transported from France to 1776-era Boston where Massachusetts revolutionary and patriot Deborah Sampson has disguised herself as a man to fight for independence.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Blue cheese and candied pecans round out a medley of flavors.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2026
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The brand’s Añejo, served with traditional red mole and corn tortillas, has similar hazelnut notes, alongside candied orange and spices.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bathrooms are big and feel extremely luxurious; clad in marble, with rain showers and big bathtubs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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Elsewhere in the photoshoot, Hosk swam in a pool, clad in a white graphic T-shirt and black underwear.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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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But Elham, a contentious and fiercely competitive student, suspects that Marjan’s zeal for anglophone culture, including Hollywood romantic comedies, masks a resentment for the Iranian life she is now stuck with.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This hurdle becomes exceptionally steep for adults who have perfected masking their symptoms.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Fortunately, the wise old Professor Tangrowth is there to help spruce it up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There is even a small cabinet positioned right above the washing machine, which keeps laundry detergent accessible while camouflaging the plastic bottle.—
Lindsey Mather,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Gray ships were easily seen in profile against the sky and horizon by U-boat periscopes—was there a better color to paint them to help camouflage them from attack?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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