# dressed

/ˈdɹɛst/ (US) · /dɹˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dressed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. wearing clothes

adjective · CEFR A2

wearing clothes rather than being naked.

For teachers: wearing clothing; often used with an adverb to describe the style or quality of the attire.

- He was fully dressed and ready for work by seven o'clock.
- The guests arrived elegantly dressed for the gala, showcasing a variety of formal styles from different cultures.

### 2. prepared for cooking

adjective · CEFR B2

cleaned or prepared for cooking, often with a sauce or oil.

For teachers: prepared for culinary use, specifically referring to cleaned poultry or salad tossed with a dressing.

- The waiter served a freshly dressed green salad with the main course.
- The recipe requires a whole dressed chicken, ensuring that the bird is cleaned and ready for the oven immediately.

### 3. treated materials

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

smoothed or prepared for use, like stone or wood for building.

For teachers: referring to raw materials, such as stone or timber, that have been smoothed, shaped, or treated for construction.

- The old house was built using dressed stone from a local quarry.
- The architect specified dressed timber for the interior exposed beams to achieve a more refined and modern aesthetic.

## Examples

- She got up and dressed quickly for work.
- The parents dressed their children in warm coats before they went out into the snow.
- The actors were dressed in elaborate eighteenth-century costumes to maintain the historical authenticity of the play's setting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.