dress up

verb

Definition of dress upnext
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

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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
as in to candy
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 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

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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 dress up North West could have gone the obvious route and returned the favor to her mom after Kim Kardashian dressed up as her eldest daughter for an early Halloween gag. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026 With Thanksgiving festivities, fall soirées, and the holiday season on the horizon, your nails have plenty of reasons to dress up. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 21 Oct. 2026 Through movies, television, school events and holiday celebrations, the Morrises have built a business around helping people dress up and have a little fun. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 The National Retail Federation’s Halloween research highlights the different ways consumers participate in seasonal celebrations, from decorating and dressing up to taking part in holiday activities. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dress up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress up
  1. dress
  2. disguise
  3. candy
  4. clothe
  5. doll up
  6. mask
  7. spruce
  8. costume
Verb
  • Ben-Gvir, dressed in a white shirt and white kippah, speaks halting English.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The letter details that the monitors will dress in business casual attire and not be identified by uniforms or pins.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of dress
Verb
  • Arbella escaped, disguised as a man in a wig, boots and sword, with plans to flee to France with her ill-begotten husband.
    — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
  • So does automation with poor economics, surveillance disguised as productivity, weak controls and technology that removes useful human judgement without creating equivalent value.
    — Kelvin Cheema, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of disguise
Verb
  • The edges caramelized and got nice and crispy—almost candied—while the centers stayed pleasantly soft.
    — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Brushed with seasoned butter and topped with bacon ranch, green onion, and candied jalapeños.
    — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of candy
Verb
  • If the upstairs is all about wood, downstairs Buck created a more monastic experience with arched hallways clad in Roman Clay from Portola Paints.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Tiny Tect Tiny Houses The exterior is clad in metal, with a metal roof.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of clothe
Verb
  • Hanging out was one thing, but the group also wanted to doll up the Potter franchise’s Ron Weasley.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
  • And Millie Bobby Brown echoed a similar sentiment on her story, sharing Hottle's memorable shot holding a handmade King Kong doll up to the giant ape.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of doll up
Verb
  • Who should avoid mouth tape Specialists say the bigger worry is that mouth tape can mask something more serious happening in your airway.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Still, this growth masks a widespread sense of anxiety, driven far more by Washington politics than anything to do with market fundamentals, according to a survey of regional oil companies by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in late September.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of mask
Verb
  • If your outdoor space has been looking a little tired from the summer sun and storms, consider this your sign to spruce things up before the next season is in full swing.
    — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Prince Harry even spruced the place up to Meghan’s liking while the couple was dating, per People, and proposed to her in the walled garden outside of the cottage in 2017.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Definition of spruce
Verb
  • After the vocal chorus, Astaire sees an apparition—Pan, costumed in Halloween drag.
    — David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The most distinct chapters, from Snell’s costuming perspective, are the country and the city.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of costume

Browse Nearby Words

dress rehearsals
dress up
dressy
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Cite this Entry

“Dress up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20up. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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