How to Use cocktail dress in a Sentence

cocktail dress

noun
  • Pull out the cocktail dress and the fancy shoes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Lean into the hot pink trend with a fit and flare cocktail dress.
    — Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 22 June 2023
  • The bride wore a white cocktail dress, while Stewart was in a light blue suit.
    — Effie Orfanides, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Don your black tie or cocktail dress and head to Vintage on Race.
    — Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Dec. 2025
  • Her powder blue cocktail dress featured long sleeves and a boat neck-like neckline.
    — Nick Hall, WWD, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The human rights lawyer wore a black cocktail dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
  • Next to her, her 18-year-old daughter looked so glamorous in a red cocktail dress.
    — Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Mar. 2023
  • The movie star bride passed on classic white attire and wore a two-tone cocktail dress with a string of pearls around her neck.
    — Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
  • One of my favorite finds is this simple and elegant lace cocktail dress.
    — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Pair it with jeans for a relaxed look or throw it over a cocktail dress to stay warm en route to holiday parties.
    — Maggie Horton, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Some will spell out that a tuxedo or gown is required, while others are happy with a cocktail dress or suit.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Williams made a statement in a light green, midi-length cocktail dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
  • This classic cocktail dress has elegant lines and flowy details.
    — Elle Murphy, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2023
  • The cocktail dress featured a hemline below the knee and was crafted in a dark chocolate brown tone.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 May 2025
  • Can they be worn just as easily with a t-shirt and jeans, as with a cocktail dress and a pair of Manolos?
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Aug. 2023
  • And for our money, there's no style quite as well suited to attending a wedding as a cocktail dress.
    — Town & Country, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Hailey looked sleek and elegant in a strapless black cocktail dress from the Row.
    — Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Aug. 2023
  • On sale for 64 percent off, this $89 cocktail dress won’t be available for long.
    — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Her midi-length cocktail dress featured a slit up the left side, showing off a pair of strappy black stilettos.
    — Seventeen, 15 Apr. 2023
  • Rowland wore a sleek velvet black dress, as Williams sported a short sequin red cocktail dress.
    — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Palm Royale wears its time period like a sweetheart-neckline cocktail dress.
    — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 13 May 2024
  • Her pick for outdoor activities also works as a cocktail dress.
    — Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
  • Swap in tailored separates for a dress Cocktail attire doesn’t have to mean a cocktail dress.
    — Leah Melby Clinton, wsj.com, 20 Dec. 2023
  • There’s semi-formal, which is often conflated with cocktail dress codes.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Last night, Taylor Swift tore down the night sky and refashioned it into a cocktail dress.
    — Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023
  • For women, a black cocktail dress or dressier black pants are perfect for most events; for men, a nice jacket and tie will suit most occasions.
    — Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 8 Jan. 2025
  • However, the little black dress is another option, as is a cocktail dress.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
  • Bieber, the wife of singer Justin Bieber, stepped out in a golden cocktail dress that included a corset that cinched her waist.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025
  • Team the skirt up with its matching tank top for the look of a stylish cocktail dress, or go casual with a cozy sweater in a contrasting color.
    — Miles Walls, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile, her husband had followed our dress code, as did her daughter in a lace designer cocktail dress and stilettos.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cocktail dress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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