dress-up

[ dres-uhp ]

adjective

1. being an occasion, situation, etc., for which one must be somewhat formally well-dressed:

   the first dress-up dance of the season.

noun

1. Informal. Usually dress-ups.
   1. a person's best clothes:

      Wear your dress-ups for the reception.

   2. accessories or other added features:

      a car with custom dress-ups.

dress up

verb

1. to attire (oneself or another) in one's best clothes
2. to put fancy dress, disguise, etc, on (oneself or another), as in children's games

   let's dress up as ghosts!

3. tr to improve the appearance or impression of

   it's no good trying to dress up the facts

Word History and Origins

Origin of dress-up¹

First recorded in 1665–75; noun, adj. use of verb phrase dress up

Example Sentences

“When I was 6, 7, 8 years old, I used to dress up as Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills during the halftime shows,” he recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

It has become fashionable for young people to dress up in Qing dynasty costumes although their long silk robes often fail to hide the other big trend – chunky white trainers.

From BBC

"Then he blossomed and started dressing up like a teddy boy and chasing the girls, getting them too."

From BBC

The subculture includes “furries,” or people who dress up in elaborate animal costumes.

From Los Angeles Times

Others were dressed up like they were going to a fancy party or a formal event.

From Salon

Related Words

• attire
• clothe
• deck out
• embellish
• spruce up