embellish

[ em-bel-ish ]

/ ɛmˈbɛl ɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: embellish / embellished / embellishes / embellishing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; ornament; adorn.

to enhance (a statement or narrative) with fictitious additions.

OTHER WORDS FOR embellish

1 decorate, garnish, bedeck, embroider.

See synonyms for embellish on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of embellish

1300–50; Middle English embelisshen<Anglo-French, Middle French embeliss- (stem of embelir), equivalent to em-em-¹ + bel- (<Latin bellus pretty) + -iss--ish²

OTHER WORDS FROM embellish

em·bel·lish·er, nounnon·em·bel·lished, adjectivenon·em·bel·lish·ing, adjectiveo·ver·em·bel·lish, verb (used with object)

re·em·bel·lish, verb (used with object)un·em·bel·lished, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use embellish in a sentence

Several in this selection have been embellished with beads, sequins and feathers.
In the galleries: Personal and political perspectives on the past|Mark Jenkins|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
To achieve that, they can embellish their SEIR models by adding more structure into how the disease spreads.
The Hard Lessons of Modeling the Coronavirus Pandemic|Jordana Cepelewicz|January 28, 2021|Quanta Magazine
Repeating an embellished story before a grand jury while under oath is an entirely different matter.
There’s No Conspiracy in Ferguson’s Secret Jury|Paul Callan|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their fall collection featured gowns embellished with prints of Star Wars characters.
Who to See and Where to be Seen: The Hot Tips for New York Fashion Week|Barbara Ragghianti|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This time, Knightley updated the frock with embellished sleeves.
Jay Z and Beyoncé Go Vegan; 2013 Was the Year of the Hipster|The Fashion Beast Team|December 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Collins went on to reveal that Disney invented—or significantly embellished—most of the events in the movie.
Jamaican Bobsledder Tal Stokes Takes to Reddit and Reveals ‘Cool Runnings’ Was Mostly Made Up||October 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She stops to smile at the crowd and then gingerly puts on gold-embellished headphones.
Paris Hilton's Trippy Los Angeles Release Party For Her Single With Lil Wayne|Jean Trinh|October 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He was liberal towards men of letters, and embellished Rome with some splendid edifices.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
It is seen through the medium of painting and poetry, and embellished by a certain idealisation.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
Again, my gloomy abode had been embellished by the presence of Angiola, so good, so gentle and compassionate.
My Ten Years' Imprisonment|Silvio Pellico
From this Htel de Ville 'the numerous statuettes with which the building was once embellished have all disappeared.'
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond
The poorest of those infidel dogs have homes of white marble and enchanting gardens, embellished with limpid fountains.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman|Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for embellish

embellish

/ (ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ) /

verb (tr)

to improve or beautify by adding detail or ornament; adorn

to make (a story) more interesting by adding detail

to provide (a melody, part, etc) with ornamentsSee ornament (def. 5)

Derived forms of embellish

embellisher, nounembellishment, noun

Word Origin for embellish

C14: from Old French embelir, from bel beautiful, from Latin bellus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

embellish

OTHER WORDS FOR embellish

Origin of embellish

OTHER WORDS FROM embellish

Words related to embellish

How to use embellish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for embellish

Derived forms of embellish

Word Origin for embellish