# dress

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɹes/ · frequency rank #1,789

## Definitions
1. To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.
2. To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.
3. To design, make, provide, or select clothes (for someone).
4. To arrange or style (someone's hair).
5. To adorn or ornament (something).
6. To adorn or ornament (something).
7. To adorn or ornament (something).
8. To apply a dressing to or otherwise treat (a wound); (obsolete) to give (a wounded person) medical aid.
9. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
10. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
11. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
12. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
13. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
14. To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.
15. To cultivate or tend to (a garden, land, plants, etc.); especially, to add fertilizer or manure to (soil); to fertilize, to manure.
16. To cut up (an animal or its flesh) for food.
17. To prepare (food) for cooking or eating, especially by seasoning it; specifically, to add a dressing or sauce (to food, especially a salad).
18. To design, make, or prepare costumes (for a play or other performance); also, to present (a production) in a particular costume style.
19. To prepare (a set) by installing the props, scenery, etc.
20. To arrange (soldiers or troops) into proper formation; especially, to adjust (soldiers or troops) into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other; to align.
21. To treat (someone) in a particular manner; specifically, in an appropriate or fitting manner; (by extension, ironic) to give (someone) a deserved beating; also, to give (someone) a good scolding; to dress down.
22. To break in and train (a horse or other animal) for use.
23. To prepare (oneself); to make ready.
24. To put on clothes.
25. To put on clothes.
26. Of a thing: to attain a certain condition after undergoing some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use.
27. To allow one's penis to fall to one side or the other within one's trousers.
28. Ellipsis of cross-dress.
29. Of an animal carcass: to have a certain quantity or weight after removal of the internal organs and skin; also, to have a certain appearance after being cut up and prepared for cooking.
30. Of soldiers or troops: to arrange into proper formation; especially, to form into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other.
31. Of a sportsperson: to put on the uniform and have the equipment needed to play a sport.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *dwís
The verb is from Middle English dressen, dresse (“to arrange, put in order”), from Anglo-Norman, Old French dresser, drecier (modern French dresser), from Late Latin *dīrēctiāre (“to guide, direct”), from Classical Latin dīrēctus, whence English direct. Further akin to Latin regō.
The noun is derived from the verb.
Compare typologically adorn (<< Latin ōrnō < ōrdō, whence also ōrdinō, English order, ornament); Russian наряжа́ть (narjažátʹ), наря́д (narjád) (akin to ряд (rjad), поря́док (porjádok)).

## Easily confused with
- **drew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-drew)
- **dues** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dues)
- **dyes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dyes)
- **drugs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-drugs)
- **drops** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-drops)
- **drums** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-drums)
- **duress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-duress)
- **driest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-driest)
- **dressed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dressed)
- **dresses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dresses)
- **dresser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dresser)
- **dryness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dress-vs-dryness)
- **Des** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/des-vs-dress)
- **Dre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dre-vs-dress)
- **does** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/does-vs-dress)
- **desk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desk-vs-dress)
- **dies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dies-vs-dress)
- **Dems** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dems-vs-dress)
- **diss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diss-vs-dress)
- **Desi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desi-vs-dress)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ddress`, `derss`, `dres`, `drress`, `drses`, `rdess`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dress