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
Set your table with your classic red, white, and blue table collections, then dress up each place setting with a basket of strawberries.
—
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
In a whimsical TikTok posted Friday (July 25), the pop superstar filmed herself seemingly getting ready backstage for a concert, all dressed up in one of her Mayhem Ball tour outfits.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 July 2025
Broderie anglaise is summer’s answer to looking dressed up without trying — and this Lulu top perfects the formula.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Plus, these are the perfect base pants for virtually any outfit and can be dressed up or down for everything from a run to a shopping spree.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
In a whimsical TikTok posted Friday (July 25), the pop superstar filmed herself seemingly getting ready backstage for a concert, all dressed up in one of her Mayhem Ball tour outfits.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 July 2025
Broderie anglaise is summer’s answer to looking dressed up without trying — and this Lulu top perfects the formula.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Plus, these are the perfect base pants for virtually any outfit and can be dressed up or down for everything from a run to a shopping spree.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
Verb
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Demi Lovato dresses the cool girl part while grabbing a frozen treat in Los Angeles on July 30.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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At our interview, Barr showed me an image of Hootie dressed in Los Angeles Dodgers gear, and said the Nomi had just run onto the team's baseball field.—
Salvador Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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State climate litigation is a political tool disguised as policy.—
Albert R. Wynn,
Baltimore Sun,
23 July 2025
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Osbourne made a surprise cameo near the film’s end, helping Nicky defeat one of his villains — who is disguised as a bat — by biting off its head, an homage to one of the rock star's most infamous on-stage antics.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Finish with a slab of carrot-cake cheesecake drizzled in caramel sauce and candied pecans.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
25 July 2025
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Anthony tosses gem lettuce, celery, apples, grapes, and candied walnuts into a light lemon dressing–and then adds the finest slivers of grated cheddar cheese for a garnish.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Before laying their own floral tributes, the family – clad in black — held up peace signs to the cheering crowd of fans, with Sharon being supported by Kelly, 40, and Jack, 39.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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These goods include unmounted or unset diamonds, precious metal jewelry and jewelry clad with precious metal − such as pieces plated with gold or silver.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Always one for innovation, MacKenzie-Childs has been known to doll up its hero products in a vast variety of designs to suit every last stylistic preference.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
17 July 2025
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Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Verb
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And as the number of A schools creeps upward, that’s ignited a debate on whether Florida is grading its schools effectively, and whether grade inflation is masking continued difficulties educating students.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
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The plaintiffs noted the tactics of the raids, in which agents arrived in military clothing and gear, heavily armed and masked.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
11 July 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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The fabric does cling to dust and pet hair, but the gray chalk color camouflages it brilliantly.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
1 Aug. 2025
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The mid-century aesthetic camouflages the traditional thermal design.—
Sam Bloch,
Time,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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