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to dress

to dress

1.0
To put clothes on yourself or someone else
  • verb
  • /drɛs/
translation icon : vestir
  • The parents helped their child dress for the school play.
  • get dressed
  • well-dressed
  • dress professionally

And I was like, just don't dress dangerously, you know?

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Examples

  • Get dressed, please.

  • Where do you think you’re going dressed like that, dear?

  • E girls are girls that dress cute to go to radio.

  • OK, so think about who you want to dress and how big they are.

  • Well, yeah, Just like just trying to dress your child on a snow day.

  • You can, you know, you got to dress warm.

  • Make sure you dress properly.

  • But most of the time we dress to create the wrong impression.

  • These Indians know neither how to dress nor how to eat.

  • She decided to dress elegantly for the wedding ceremony.

Synonyms

to wear
vsto dress
1.0

Have clothes, jewelry, or accessories on your body

refers to the action of putting on clothes, often for style or events
to get dressed
vsto dress
253 1.0

To put on clothes

is used especially when clothing is for a particular style or event
to dress up
vsto dress
178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

is used for general clothing actions including special-event styling
to get into
vsto dress
82 2.6

To put on a piece of clothing

refers to the whole act of clothing, often with style or purpose
to put on
vsto dress
54 3.0

To start music or a recording so people can hear it

covers overall clothing action, often emphasizing style or special occasions
to suit up
vsto dress
  • Informal
38 4.0

Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event

is more general, covering dressing for style or various occasions
to clothe
vsto dress
19 3.2

To put clothes on someone or cover their body with clothes

stresses dressing for particular appearance or special events rather than just covering
to attire
vsto dress
  • Formal
7 4.6

To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive

includes that formal use but also general clothing actions for occasions
to garb
vsto dress
2 7.9

To dress someone in clothes of a special type

is a broader action also used for regular or special clothing choices
to apparel
vsto dress
  • Formal
1 7.2

To put clothes on someone

focuses more on choosing clothing for a particular look or occasion
to fit out
vsto dress
1 4.2

To give a person or place the supplies needed for a specific purpose

is narrower toward choosing clothes for appearance rather than full equipment
to enclothe
vsto dress
  • Archaic
9.9

To put clothes on a person or thing

highlights styling or event-specific clothing rather than mere supply
to tog
vsto dress
  • UK
9.9

To put clothes on someone, often in a special way for warmth

is the ordinary action of clothing, not only styled or noted outfits
to raiment
vsto dress
  • Archaic
9.9

To put clothes on someone

expresses the same action but in modern, everyday wording and styles

Antonyms

to undress
  • NSFW
88 2.0

To take off clothes from yourself or another person

12 6.3

To take off your clothes

Idioms

to dress to kill
  • Informal
1 6.2

To wear very attractive clothes to impress people

To wear clothes like a cowboy, for example a hat and boots

Phrasal Verbs

178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

61 3.5

Put on a costume to look like someone or something else

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

12 2.9

Make something look better than it really is

Put on warm clothes to stay warm in cold weather

to dress down
  • Informal
3 6.3

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong

3 4.2

Put decorations on animals for special events

Wear clothes that suit the event or weather

to dress down
  • Informal
1 3.8

To wear casual clothes instead of formal ones

1 8.7

Remove the insides and clean an animal so you can eat it

to dress ship
  • Specialized
8.5

Put flags on a ship for a ceremony or festival

To wear a simple white sheet as a ghost costume at Halloween

To make something look better than it is to trick people

Compounds

62 1.0

A long formal gown worn by a bride at her wedding

40 2.5

Rules about what clothes people can or must wear in a place

26 1.0

A dress that is black and often worn for formal or special occasions

dress rehearsal
  • Specialized
20 3.3

A full practice of a play in costume before opening night

A short elegant dress for women to wear at evening events

9 2.7

A formal men's shirt with a stiff front, worn with a tuxedo

dress uniform
  • Specialized
8 4.1

A formal uniform worn by people in the military for ceremonies and official events

A formal dress worn by women for evening events

A simple black dress to wear to many events like a party or dinner

6 1.1

A shop that sells women's dresses and matching jewelry

5 3.5

A costume people wear to hide who they are at a party

dress blues
  • Jargon
5 6.1

A formal military uniform worn for ceremonies and official events

2 2.6

A very short dress that ends well above the knees

2 3.1

A dress made of soft velvet worn for special occasions

dress whites
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Formal white uniforms people in the military wear for ceremonies

full dress
  • Formal
1 6.8

Formal evening clothes for men worn at very important events

battle dress
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A soldier's uniform worn for fighting and work in the field

1 7.0

A formal party where people wear costumes and masks and dance

1 6.0

A very formal uniform that military or navy officers wear at official ceremonies

Ordinary clothes worn by people who are not soldiers, police, or religious leaders

1 5.4

A curved section of seats above the main floor with a good view of the stage

1 3.5

A formal men's outfit with a tailcoat and trousers for evening events

A loose women's dress with gathered sleeves and simple embroidery

A dress with a full, rounded skirt that looks puffy like a princess dress

A dress with a collar and buttons down the front

dinner dress
  • Formal
3.4

A formal long gown worn to evening events like dinners

diving dress
  • Archaic
8.0

A heavy airtight suit that gave divers air while working underwater before modern diving gear

A hanger shaped like shoulders for holding clothes like dresses

5.3

A tall formal hat for men often covered with silk or fur and worn with a formal suit

A rack that shows dresses for sale in a shop

any old dress
  • Informal
1.6

A plain dress with nothing special about it

A dress with ruffled layers that move when you walk

full-dress
  • Formal
6.9

Needing formal clothes for a ceremony or event

full-dress
  • Formal
7.2

Being formal and complete in every part

A dress with a young, playful, slightly childlike style

8.2

Formal men's clothes for daytime that include a tailcoat, waistcoat and striped trousers

morning dress
  • Archaic
7.1

A simple dress a woman wears at home for morning housework

girlie dress
  • Informal
3.5

A dress with soft decorative details like ruffles or ribbons that shows a feminine style

A piece of clothing with thin straps behind the neck and a loose straight shape

Traditional clothing worn by Qaren people with distinctive patterns and styles

Romish dress
  • Archaic
9.9

A style of clothing worn for Roman Catholic ceremonies or by priests

A dress with a full, puffed skirt that sticks out

A neat, classic style of clothing with blazers and ties like private school students wear

schmancy dress
  • Informal
8.9

A fancy stylish outfit that people wear to special events

6.2

A formal dress made of silk for special occasions

A tight dress that shows the shape of the body

A smooth, close-fitting outfit that looks elegant and modern

A dress with a full skirt that spins when you turn

A close-fitting dress that shows and flatters curves

How Dressed

to dress up
178 2.7
to dress
1.0
to dress down
  • Informal
1 3.8

Surface Forms

dress infinitive
dressed past
dressed past participle
dressing present participle
dresses third person singular

Etymology

Dress as a verb comes from the Old French dresser 'to put in order' and the Latin direct 'straight'. So to dress someone is to make them ready by putting clothes on.