Phrasal verb
dress up
Meanings
to put on nicer or more formal clothes than usual for an occasion
to wear a costume or change your appearance to look like a character, person, or thing
to make something look more attractive or impressive by adding decorative details
Definition
To dress up means to wear more formal or special clothes than usual, often for an event.
To dress up is to put on nice, formal, or fancy clothes for a particular occasion. People dress up for parties, ceremonies, dates, or performances. It can also mean wearing a costume or changing your appearance to look like someone or something else.
Examples
- I’ll dress up for the wedding this weekend.
- You don’t have to dress up for the meeting; it’s very casual.
- He dressed up as a pirate for the costume party.
- She dressed up the living room with candles and flowers.
- They dressed up for dinner because it was their anniversary.
Common mistake
Learners often forget that the object can go between the verb and particle (e.g., "dress the room up" as well as "dress up the room").
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.