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
The Lina Smocked Midi Dress is an editor favorite that’s just been marked down to $99 in a trendy gingham print, and it can easily be dressed up with heels or styled with simple white sneakers for a day of sightseeing.
—
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
These are not football-and-basketball numbers dressed up in skates.
—Daryl G. Jones, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
An ingredient as reliable as sweet potatoes needs to get dressed up every once in a while, and this 9x13 recipe really gives them their due.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 15 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
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
These are not football-and-basketball numbers dressed up in skates.
—Daryl G. Jones, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
An ingredient as reliable as sweet potatoes needs to get dressed up every once in a while, and this 9x13 recipe really gives them their due.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 15 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
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
-
Madame Gres dressed the likes of Princess Grace of Monaco, Greta Grabo, Marlene Dietrich and Jacqueline Kennedy.—
Cathrin Schaer,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
-
Today, pretty much every maison has a reference dressed in the hue.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Among the examples of red flags cited by the latest order are accounts in the names of shell companies and use of specific platforms to disguise wage payments, and repetitive cash withdrawals.—
Nupur Anand,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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The prohibition extends to services supporting prediction markets, like virtual private networks, that could allow consumers to disguise their location and get around the ban.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Crystallized or candied ginger is made by cooking fresh ginger in sugar syrup.—
Kelsey Ogletree,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
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The official tasting notes describe crisp oak, sweet vanilla, and candied fruit on the nose, followed by ripe berries, honey, and caramel on the palate, finishing with cherry and creamy barrel tones.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Guests will find raw concrete, ribbed glass, plenty of velvet and bubblegum-hued rugs, and walls clad in cork for the kind of insulation used in recording booths of the 1960s.—
Lindsey Tramuta,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
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Fortunately, the only consequence was that his mother was less than impressed at the return home of her soaking wet husband and son after the elder Cerrato jumped in fully clothed to the rescue.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
23 May 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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Shop more Virtue products, including my go-to hair mask below.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
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Traffic was abundant, CPCs were manageable and aggregate conversion rates masked the waste happening at the individual visitor level.—
Ankur Goyal,
Forbes.com,
22 May 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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Sometimes applying a furniture-grade oil over the whole surface can camouflage grease stains.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
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The bongos are shy and can camouflage despite their distinct white stripes, and these attributes are critical for their survival in the wild.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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