dressed; dressing; dresses
1
a
: to make or set straight
b
: to arrange (troops, equipment, etc.) in a straight line and at proper intervals
2
: to prepare for use or service
specifically
: to prepare for cooking or for the table
dress a salad
3
: to add decorative details or accessories to : embellish
4
a
: to put clothes on
dress a child
b
: to provide with clothing
feed and dress a growing family
5
archaic
: dress down
6
a
: to apply dressings or medicaments to
dress a wound
b(1)
: to arrange (the hair) by combing, brushing, or curling
(2)
: to groom and curry (an animal)
c
: to kill and prepare for market or for consumption
—often used with out
e
: to put through a finishing process
especially
: to trim and smooth the surface of (a material, such as lumber or stone)
1
a
: to put on clothing
b
: to put on or wear formal, elaborate, or fancy clothes
dress for dinner
2
of a food animal
: to weigh after being dressed
—often used with out
3
: to align oneself with the next soldier in a line to make the line straight
1
: suitable for a formal occasion
dress clothes
dress shoes
2
: requiring or permitting formal dress
a dress affair
3
: relating to or used for a dress
dress material
Synonyms
Examples of dress in a Sentence
Verb
They dressed themselves in a hurry.
He dressed the child in a snowsuit.
She showered, dressed, and ate breakfast.
She dressed warmly for skiing.
She is dressing for the opera.
They always dress for dinner.
The nurse dressed the cut on my knee.
Noun
She wore dresses only on special occasions.
She wore a short black dress to the party.
Her wedding dress was decorated with lace.
The guests were clothed in traditional Indian dress.
It is wise to wear conservative dress to an interview.
Adjective
I wore dress pants and a nice sweater.
the naval commander wore his dress uniform to the ball
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
The 16th annual event had fashion and film buffs alike rubbing elbows inside the museum, many dressed in their Chanel finest, swapping stories of their favorite of Jackson’s movies.
—Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
Violet Goldstone, WWD, 25 Oct. 2024
The singer and entrepreneur opted for a chunky wool knit maxi dress complete with a hoodie and a two-way asymmetrical zipper.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Daniel B. Kline, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2017
Dress code controversies are nothing new, especially in the era of social media.
—Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 29 Aug. 2017
See all Example Sentences for dress 
Verb
That’s when the hotel team dresses the roofless structure up with bistro lights and candles and invites an eclectic mix of musicians to play under the stars.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
The 16th annual event had fashion and film buffs alike rubbing elbows inside the museum, many dressed in their Chanel finest, swapping stories of their favorite of Jackson’s movies.
—Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
The actress wore a custom leather dress in a deep wine color, courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 25 Oct. 2024
The singer and entrepreneur opted for a chunky wool knit maxi dress complete with a hoodie and a two-way asymmetrical zipper.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
That's the case even if the job does not require dress clothes.
—Daniel B. Kline, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2017
Dress code controversies are nothing new, especially in the era of social media.
—Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 29 Aug. 2017
See all Example Sentences for dress
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dress
1 of 3 verb1
: to make or set straight
2
a
: to put clothes on
b
: to provide with clothing
c
: to put on or wear formal or fancy clothes
3
: to trim or decorate for display
4
: to put in order
5
a
: to apply dressings or medicine to
dress a wound
b
: to arrange (as the hair) by combing, brushing, or curling
d
: to kill and prepare for market
dress a chicken
e
: to apply manure or fertilizer to
dress
2 of 3 noun1
2
: an outer garment with a skirt for a woman or child
3
: clothing appropriate to a particular time or occasion
Roman dress
evening dress
dress
3 of 3 adjective1
: suitable or required for a formal occasion
dress clothes
2
: relating to or used for a dress
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