dress up
- 01 A2 Elementary
to put on your best or most formal clothes for a special occasion.
to wear formal or elegant attire, typically for a social event or professional occasion. The verb is intransitive in this sense.
Simple“You don't need to dress up for the party; jeans and a t-shirt are fine.”
In context“The invitation specified a black-tie dress code, so all the guests were expected to dress up in their finest evening wear.”
UsageIntransitive; does not take a direct object.
Synonymssuit upoverdressAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
to wear a costume to look like a famous person, a character, or an animal.
to wear a costume for the purpose of roleplay, entertainment, or disguise. Often used with the preposition 'as'.
Simple“The children love to dress up as superheroes and play in the garden.”
In context“For the historical reenactment, the volunteers had to dress up in authentic Victorian garments to maintain the atmosphere of the museum.”
UsageOften followed by 'as' + noun.
Synonymsdisguisecosplay - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to make something look more attractive or impressive than it really is.
to present something in a more favourable or decorative light, often to disguise its true nature or simplicity.
Simple“She tried to dress up the simple salad with some colorful flowers.”
In context“The marketing team attempted to dress up the disappointing quarterly results with optimistic projections for the following year.”
UsageTransitive; the object can sit between 'dress' and 'up'.
distinguish between the 'formal' sense (wearing a suit) and the 'costume' sense (wearing a mask); in British English, 'fancy dress' specifically refers to the costume sense.
- put on
- get ready
- wear a costume
- overdress
- Particles
- up
- Separability
- optional
- Pattern
- dress + up (+ object)