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to dress

to dress

96 3.0
To make food, hair or a place look attractive by adding small items
  • verb
  • /drɛs/
translation icon : adornar
  • And then we can dress everything with flowers first thing in the morning.

Examples

  • The gourds themselves might be dressed with beads, suggesting the completion of the body.

    Academic text (2000)
  • She used fresh herbs and a flavorful dressing to dress the salad beautifully.

  • So now it's time to install and dress around it.

  • Dress the girl however you like.

  • One thing is certain: Robert Visser dressed his experiences in Africa according to the situation at hand.

    Academic text (2002)
  • But the Marchioness was not content to merely dress her young guest in fine feathers.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Monster trucks gain their identity by being dressed in customized fiberglass body panels.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The event planner will dress the venue with elegant decorations for the wedding.

  • To make the cupcakes more appealing, we decided to dress them with colorful icing and sprinkles.

Synonyms

to get dressed
vsto dress
253 1.0

To put on clothes

is broader, involving arranging or decorating objects as well as clothing
to decorate
vsto dress
226 1.9

To make something look nicer by adding paint, ornaments, or other items

is similar but also covers arranging and presenting items beyond decoration
to dress up
vsto dress
178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

is wider, not limited to clothing or event dressings
to arrange
vsto dress
162 1.7

To put things or information in a clear, neat order

focuses more on aesthetic improvement and presentability rather than only order
56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

is the broader act of making things attractive or presentable
to groom
vsto dress
40 2.3

To make hair or fur clean and neat by brushing

includes that care but also covers arranging objects and displays
to suit up
vsto dress
  • Informal
38 4.0

Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event

includes clothing choice but also arranging and decorating objects for presentation
to doll
vsto dress
  • Informal
22 7.6

To dress someone or something in a fancy way

is more general, applying to objects and places as well as people
to trim
vsto dress
19 4.1

To add decorations to something to make it look special

is wider, covering general arranging and overall presentation not only details
to garnish
vsto dress
15 3.5

To decorate food with small pieces to add color and flavor

is more general, applying to food, hair, displays, and places
dolled up
vsto dress
  • Informal
7 6.9

Dressed in fancy clothes and makeup for a special event

describes the act of making things attractive rather than the worn result
to attire
vsto dress
  • Formal
7 4.6

To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive

focuses on making items presentable beyond the act of wearing clothes
to costume
vsto dress
5 4.0

To dress someone in special clothes for a play or event

is wider, applying to decoration and arranging beyond clothing for performances
to get up
vsto dress
4 3.7

To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive

is more general, addressing visual presentation of many kinds of things
spruced up
vsto dress
  • Informal
3 4.6

Neat and attractive, often dressed or decorated for a special occasion

emphasizes making things attractive or presentable, not only wearing neat clothes
to gown
vsto dress
  • Formal
3 6.9

To put a long formal robe on someone for a ceremony

is more general, applying to many objects and simpler presentations
to frock
vsto dress
  • Jargon
1 8.9

To put a special robe on someone during a ceremony

is broader, covering everyday and non-ceremonial presentation tasks
to coiffure
vsto dress
1 9.2

To arrange hair carefully, often by a hairdresser

covers hair work but also a wider range of objects and presentation
to coif
vsto dress
1 8.4

To arrange hair to look neat or fancy

is broader, applying the same idea beyond hair styling
to apparel
vsto dress
  • Formal
1 7.2

To put clothes on someone

includes clothing but also arranging, decorating, and styling non-clothing items
to coiffe
vsto dress
  • Archaic
9.6

To style hair neatly for a clean, attractive look

covers formal and informal presentation across many items, not only hair

Antonyms

To make something messy or not in the right order

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 Decorated

to embellish
10 6.3
to adorn
45 4.9
to dress
96 3.0
garnish
48 3.2

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Dress as a verb for food comes from the Old French dresser 'to arrange' and the Latin direct 'straight'. That's why to dress a salad or plate means to arrange it and make it look nice.