accessorize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
accessorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
accessorized,
past participle, past
-
accessorizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
accessorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
accessorized,
past participle, past
-
accessorizing
present participle
-
to choose or wear accessories.
Well-dressed women accessorize according to the occasion.
-
to be suitable for accessories.
Some clothes accessorize more easily than others.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
accessorizesimple
-
accessorizessimple
-
have accessorizedperfect
-
has accessorizedperfect
-
am accessorizingprogressive
-
are accessorizingprogressive
-
is accessorizingprogressive
-
have been accessorizingperfect progressive
-
has been accessorizingperfect progressive
Past
-
accessorizedsimple
-
had accessorizedperfect
-
was accessorizingprogressive
-
were accessorizingprogressive
-
had been accessorizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of accessorize
An Americanism dating back to 1935–39; accessor(y) + -ize
Explanation
When you add a scarf, belt, or tiara to your outfit, you accessorize. That dress looks fine, but it'll look even better if you accessorize with this diamond necklace! The verb accessorize means to add accessories to what you're wearing — in other words, something extra that improves or enhances your basic clothing. You might prefer to accessorize with striped knee socks and a ball cap, while your younger siblings like to accessorize with feathers, sparkles, and plastic jewelry.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You’ve got to accessorize with long shorts, football jerseys, ankle socks and high-tops.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
That young Zuck feels leagues away from today’s Mark Zuckerberg, who’s now designing his own streetwear-inspired T-shirts, emblazoned with Latin phrases, which he’ll occasionally accessorize with a gold chain.
From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2024
When I was finally old enough to accessorize my slippers, I took great care in my ribbon ritual.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2024
When we accessorize, Herd said, we’re putting a “personal spin” on an off-the-rack purchase.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2024
“Fifth Avenue is so on our way! We could accessorize, and monsters, like, totally hate the smell of Givenchy.”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
SR: I feel like she accessorizes too — she wears her gold nameplate in every shot that she does, or sometimes she’ll put a flower in her hair or something.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2022
Or accessorizes a hospital gown, post-surgery but pre-discharge, with a cardigan and multiple strands of pearls?
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2022
She accessorizes the look in a pair of nude high heels and a flowy white beach cover up.
From Fox News ● Dec. 3, 2020
His character is soft and tough, likes hats and further accessorizes with a crew of gym rats, who also wear tartan.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2020
An integral part of storytime is Timmy the squirrel, a puppet who accessorizes based on the book selection and was dressed up in his Christmas best during an interview.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 17, 2019
Both Hole’s Courtney Love and Babes in Toyland’s Kat Bjelland claimed to be the first to perform in vintage, threadbare dresses with Peter Pan collars and puff sleeves, accessorized with knee socks and Mary Janes.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Chevron-patterned hardwood flooring was accessorized with a patterned rug at the center of the space, while a large wooden side table with a lamp was seen next to one arm of the couch.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026
Kendall Jenner recently accessorized with a Canon PowerShot in an Instagram post.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025
She accessorized her outfit with a white cowboy hat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2025
Cardan is wearing his usual scowl, accessorized with kohl under his eyes and a circlet of gold in his midnight hair.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
The 27-year-old megastar, who isn’t a brand spokesperson, further fueled the mania by accessorizing her luxury handbags with small Labubu pendants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2024
TikTok and Instagram users have been posting their ventures accessorizing handbags, shoes, and more.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2024
Besides, the wealth of accessorizing that went into recreating “Avatar: The Last Airbender” isn’t the issue – it’s what’s missing, which is some of its spirit.
From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2024
When Gary McBournie and Bill Richards, the married partners of Boston-based interior design firm Gary McBournie Inc., were accessorizing a fireplace in Wellesley, Massachusetts, they chose anchor-shaped andirons.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2022
In times of stress, she relied on her skills at accessorizing to calm her.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
