1
as in dressing
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 disguising
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
as in sprucing
to make more desirable
dressed up the house with new windows and a paint job before putting it on the market
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in clothing
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 dressing up
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party also took the discourse offline this week, dressing up as the insect to clean up India’s notoriously polluted Yamuna River in Delhi, according to news reports.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The Love on the Spectrum star posed for a photoshoot at the grand opening of the new Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, dressing up in a mermaid tail reminiscent of one of her favorite characters, Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Rachel Smith, co-organizer of the convention and co-founder of Mermaid and Mom, a mermaid party entertainment business, told The Sacramento Bee in 2025 that the California Mermaid Convention brings together water enthusiasts who care for the environment and love dressing up.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Bad Bunny went full costume, carrying a cane and dressing up as an older version of himself with gray hair and special effects makeup to add years to his face.
—Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Dinner offers upscale fare but with come-as-you-are attire, as most guests are focused on hands-on experiences rather than dressing up for a long meal.
—Malika Bowling, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Spiegelman uses the term micro-looting, dressing up petty theft in political pretensions.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Three Los Angeles County residents will spend their weekends in jail for dressing up as a bear and trashing luxury cars for insurance money.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
It is also known for its elaborate costumes, with many attendees dressing up as their favorite characters.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The Love on the Spectrum star posed for a photoshoot at the grand opening of the new Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, dressing up in a mermaid tail reminiscent of one of her favorite characters, Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Rachel Smith, co-organizer of the convention and co-founder of Mermaid and Mom, a mermaid party entertainment business, told The Sacramento Bee in 2025 that the California Mermaid Convention brings together water enthusiasts who care for the environment and love dressing up.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Bad Bunny went full costume, carrying a cane and dressing up as an older version of himself with gray hair and special effects makeup to add years to his face.
—Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Dinner offers upscale fare but with come-as-you-are attire, as most guests are focused on hands-on experiences rather than dressing up for a long meal.
—Malika Bowling, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Spiegelman uses the term micro-looting, dressing up petty theft in political pretensions.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Three Los Angeles County residents will spend their weekends in jail for dressing up as a bear and trashing luxury cars for insurance money.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
It is also known for its elaborate costumes, with many attendees dressing up as their favorite characters.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing up
Verb
-
Fortunately, dressing for the occasion has never been easier.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
-
Every day revolves around medications, feedings, therapies, appointments, bathing, dressing and monitoring their health.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
And with that pairing, there can be no disguising their ambitions of a second Super Bowl title since their return to Los Angeles, and to win it again at SoFi Stadium.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
This is like inviting a homeless person into your home, sheltering them, feeding them, clothing them, educating them, and having that person's confidant leak that the newly comfortable person doesn't think less of you.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The labor market's surface statistics—unemployment near 4%, job openings still above historical norms—have been masking a more selective and sector-specific deterioration that's been building for the better part of two years.—
Jason Kirsch,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Why So Many Women Miss the Signs Hormonal birth control — pills, patches, rings, injections and IUDs — can blur the picture by regulating cycles and masking shifts in estrogen.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Only sweetening the deal this year is the fact that her friend Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent is co-chairing the hosting committee.—
Irene Kim,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
-
Coffee giant Starbucks is looking to encourage its baristas and hourly workers to improve their sales and customer service by sweetening the pot with bigger financial perks.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The tint is sheer and subtle but makes a noticeable difference in evening out skin tone and camouflaging discoloration.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
-
Don't Overlook the Finish For a novice home painter, going with a flat finish will afford the most forgiveness, camouflaging imperfections rather than drawing the eye to them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Start by improving your credit score to get it as high as possible.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
That also means improving the quality of the bales that retailers bid on, mostly sight unseen, in what has become a kind of high-stakes lottery.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
She was acquitted of concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
In the roller coaster video, he is seen concealing a box of chicken nuggets before entering the park and later boarding Millennium Force.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing%20up. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
