as in to dress
to try to make yourself more attractive by making small changes to your clothes, hair, etc., especially while looking at yourself in a mirror
The teenagers spent hours primping in front of the mirror on the day of the prom.
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Recent Examples of primp
Image Image In Dili, the capital, streets were scrubbed and walls freshly painted to primp for the papal trip.
—
Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Handlers at the 2024 National Dog Show Presented by Purina spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about getting different breeds ready for the big event and the amount of primping required.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Find it on Amazon Bring the Spa Home With This Facial Steamer
Turn your bathroom into a spa with this facial steamer kit that comes with eight tools to primp and prod the skin, just like a professional.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
Photographed by Clémence Polès The next couple of hours felt like a rom-com montage—a bunch of girls playing, primping, and posing for pictures.
—Jessie Heyman, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for primp
Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Handlers at the 2024 National Dog Show Presented by Purina spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about getting different breeds ready for the big event and the amount of primping required.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Find it on Amazon Bring the Spa Home With This Facial Steamer
Turn your bathroom into a spa with this facial steamer kit that comes with eight tools to primp and prod the skin, just like a professional.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
Photographed by Clémence Polès The next couple of hours felt like a rom-com montage—a bunch of girls playing, primping, and posing for pictures.
—Jessie Heyman, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for primp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primp
Verb
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Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
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Make a tasty salad dressing with pomegranate juice, rice vinegar, oil, garlic powder, and a bit of honey.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ace holds center stage, knees bent, slung low to the ground, brandishing his Gibson while Gene and Paul preen on either side of him.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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The two birds often perch very close together, preening each other’s feathers — a behavior called allopreening — which probably helps strengthen their bond.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primp. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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