accessorize
Americanverb (used with object)
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accessorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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accessorized,
past participle, past
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accessorizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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accessorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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accessorized,
past participle, past
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accessorizing
present participle
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to choose or wear accessories.
Well-dressed women accessorize according to the occasion.
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to be suitable for accessories.
Some clothes accessorize more easily than others.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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accessorizesimple
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accessorizessimple
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have accessorizedperfect
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has accessorizedperfect
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am accessorizingprogressive
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are accessorizingprogressive
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is accessorizingprogressive
-
have been accessorizingperfect progressive
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has been accessorizingperfect progressive
Past
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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
And she does accessorize in other areas of her life, too, she said, pointing to various tassels she has for her Bogg Bag.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2024
I’ve learned how to build a good, strong hut and accessorize it just right.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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
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
How he accessorizes will offer an early signal of whether he will stay true to his roots as a subway beat officer or follow his predecessors into the city’s social stratosphere.
From New York Times ● Aug. 5, 2016
She creates really dark interiors and accessorizes with faux plants that are incredible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2015
Coach to that end markets its bestselling Tabby bag as a versatile item that works in contexts including school and work, accessorized with any of dozens of charms from cutesy carrots to diamante bows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
It’s an aggressive aesthetic for depicting painful memories: defiantly nonlinear, accessorized with harsh sound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026
In the main living space, enormous built-in shelves have been accessorized with all manner of collectible items and books, while the living room has a distinctive white brick wall that frames an enormous wood-burning fireplace.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 9, 2025
In the laugh break that followed that joke, she stared directly into the camera, her mouth playfully twisted in a “you know what I’m talkin’ about” half smirk, accessorized with side-eye.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2024
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
On the surface, there is nothing harmful about accessorizing your water bottle or adding a little extra flair to your handbag—especially since humans are so intrinsically focused on creating identity.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2024
The wealth of accessorizing that went into recreating “Avatar: The Last Airbender” isn’t the issue.
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
When accessorizing your language, remember that a little jewelry goes a long way. discreet silence.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
