gussy
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
Etymology
Origin of gussy
First recorded in 1935–40; of obscure origin
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:
And so it was a delightful week of watching the Interior Department scramble to gussy it up again.
From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2026
Even attempting to gussy up the brew with creamers or syrups did next to nothing and barely amounted to much.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2023
Dolly Parton is starting an apparel brand for dogs that will let pet owners gussy up their pups just like the legendary country music singer.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
Nor did the Beatles seem to gussy themselves up much for their last public appearance on a London rooftop — the climax of “Get Back.”
From New York Times ● Dec. 11, 2021
“Let’s try it! We’ll just take Miss St. James’s hairbrush and a perfume bottle or two—something to gussy up Theo’s room and make it look as though a young lady lives there.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Summer 2025’s blockbusters have been gussied up to seem as appealing and action-packed as ever.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2025
The performance space is a rehearsal studio that hasn’t been gussied up much, and the performers make full use of it.
From New York Times ● Jan. 14, 2024
On the bar food, staples of vermicelli noodles and sandwiches get gussied up with marbled beef and other high end meats.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 17, 2023
I also gussied it up a bit more by topping it with fresh avocado slices, cilantro leaves, pico de gallo and crunchy corn chips.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 21, 2023
I was already picturing Nan’s brace gussied up, though she wasn’t one for sequins—maybe silver studs.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
The real trick to gussying up grocery store blooms?
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2022
Lee sometimes gives the impression of a virtuoso guitarist, needlessly gussying up his act with double-necked axes and pyrotechnics.
From The Verge ● Oct. 8, 2019
Not as long as Grammy and Oscar broadcast producers remain committed to gussying up awards-show performances with unearned profundity by throwing in choirs-for-hire.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2019
Those handling his work have chosen to honor that quality, without gussying it up to make him a cartoon.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 11, 2018
And he did it without gussying up his points or banging you over the head with them.
From New York Times ● Sep. 9, 2018
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.
