Dictionary

dress up en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To put on special or fancy clothes.
   • Runners had a fun day out in Friday's HKLRRC Boxing Day Race at Wan Chai Gap with most of the participants dressed up in costumes and braving the chilly weather. 2014 December 26, Richard Castka, “Runners brave chilly weather in Boxing Day Run”, in South China Morning Post, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Jul 2021, Sport:
   • Everyone dressed up for the graduation ball.
   • I want a job where I don't have to dress up.
2. (intransitive, often, with 'as') To put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular type of character or well-known person.
   • We're having a party on Saturday, but you must dress up as a famous historical figure.
3. (often, transitive, with 'as') To put a costume on (someone) portraying them as a particular type of character or well-known person.
   • The cat hated when they dressed him up for Halloween.
4. (transitive) To decorate; to prettify.
   • Mistress, your father prays you leave your books, And help to dress your sister’s chamber up: You know to-morrow is the wedding-day. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
5. (transitive) To present in a favorable light.
   • You can dress up that proposal however you want; it's still going to go over like a lead balloon.

Forms

Antonyms

dress down

Coordinates

cosplay

Deriveds

dressed up · dress-up

Synonyms

gussy up · spin

Translations (34)

sv klä ut sig (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · nl verkleden (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · pl ubrać (to present in a better light) · es emperifollarse (to put on special or fancy clothes) · es disfrezarse (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · ru наряжаться (to put on special or fancy clothes) · fi pukeutua (siististi, hienosti, tyylikkäästi) (to put on special or fancy clothes) · de sich verkleiden (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · es engalanarse (to put on special or fancy clothes) · de sich schick anziehen (to put on special or fancy clothes) · az bəzəmək (to put on special or fancy clothes) · de sich aufbrezeln (to put on special or fancy clothes) · es vestirse de gala (to put on special or fancy clothes) · fi laittautua (to put on special or fancy clothes) · ja 着飾る (to put on special or fancy clothes) · sv skönmåla (to present in a better light) · fi pukeutua (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · fi pukeutua (to put on special or fancy clothes) · pl wystrajać się (to put on special or fancy clothes) · nb kle seg ut (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · pl wystroić się (to put on special or fancy clothes) · pl stroić się (to put on special or fancy clothes) · pl przebrać się (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · yi זיך אויספּוצן (to put on special or fancy clothes) · ru наряжаться (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · de aufputzen (to present in a better light) · pl ubierać (to present in a better light) · pl przebierać się (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · es ataviarse (to put on special or fancy clothes) · es vestirse bonito (to put on special or fancy clothes) · es ponerse elegante (to put on special or fancy clothes) · sv klä upp sig (to put on special or fancy clothes) · es disfrazarse (to put on a costume portraying oneself as a particular character or figure) · de sich herausputzen (to put on special or fancy clothes)