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
This versatile maxi dress is a customer-favorite and can easily be dressed up for a date night or down for a quick grocery run.
—
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
But even when such occasions were more common, ladies knew how to dress up without maintaining costume shops — pairing basic dresses with scarves, jewelry or little jackets.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Riggle, who was dressed up as Uncle Sam, said the American flag iconography was an important part of the protest because the rally was on Flag Day, and the flag is one of the things that best embodies American democracy.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Seymour also posted another family photo including her grandson Rowan, who dressed up in a coat, skinny jeans and wide-brim hat.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
But even when such occasions were more common, ladies knew how to dress up without maintaining costume shops — pairing basic dresses with scarves, jewelry or little jackets.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Riggle, who was dressed up as Uncle Sam, said the American flag iconography was an important part of the protest because the rally was on Flag Day, and the flag is one of the things that best embodies American democracy.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Seymour also posted another family photo including her grandson Rowan, who dressed up in a coat, skinny jeans and wide-brim hat.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Investigators said the shooter was dressed as a police officer.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
15 June 2025
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Authorities are searching for a shooting suspect who dressed as a police officer and fled on foot, officials said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Verb
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But dark secrets and hormones become issues, thanks to their latest enemy: demons disguised as a hunky boy band.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
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Plus, the blend of neutral shades disguises dirt and debris and works with a variety of decor styles.—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
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San Diego Padres Banana Bread Pudding Topped with glazed banana slices, candied nuts and wafer cookies, this treat is already a fan favorite.—
Andrea Lavinthal,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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According to the brand, the Blanco tequila features notes of ripe pear, citrus zest and a crisp agave finish, while the Reposado offers flavors of cinnamon, vanilla and candied orange peel with a warm caramel finish.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Excitement reverberated throughout the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park as city officials unveiled the host city plaque to a crowd of kids clad in cleats and jerseys who were eager to take part in a youth soccer clinic led by former San Jose Earthquakes player Shea Salinas.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
12 June 2025
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In the footsteps of those dancing orphans roamed my students, burnished by tanning beds and clad in tiny shorts.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Wearing a look inspired by Barbie herself, Margot Robbie dolls up at this year's Gotham Awards on Nov. 27 in N.Y.C. 43 of 80 Night to Remember Bradley Cooper waves to onlookers outside of the 2023 Gotham Awards in New York City on Nov. 27.—
Zoey Lyttle,
Peoplemag,
30 Nov. 2023
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To further doll up your kitchen, Hilton’s main cutlery set features eight luxuriously golden knives with soft pink handles and gold accents.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2023
Verb
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The building is masked within the central spine of the project by the surrounding environment.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 June 2025
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The alleged officers detaining hundreds if not thousands of people each day in California and across the country are often masked.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Whether your patio could use sprucing or your living room needs reinvigorating, doing home makeovers on a budget is tough.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
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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
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That means that the bioluminescence that other creatures use to camouflage themselves can be distinguished.—
Sean Mowbray,
Discover Magazine,
12 June 2025
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Luckily, Tower 28 tackled that drawback by adding a blendable universal tint to the formula, camouflaging the active ingredient’s stark white finish.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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