First recorded in 1830–40; noun and adj. use of verb phrase lace up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She took off her white coat to reveal a second outfit, this time a deep maroon dress with a lace-up back.
From BBC ● May 4, 2026
She steers brides who are taking GLP-1s toward more forgiving silhouettes, for instance suggesting dresses with adjustable lace-up backs instead of zippers, and prefers cuts that flare at the waist to help mask weight fluctuations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 25, 2026
Her lace-up combat boots debuted at Prada’s Addams-esque fall 2019 show on models with pigtails like Wednesday’s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
For the last few years, every pair of men’s lace-up shoes I’ve purchased has had some messed-up laces.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2023
He was dressed stylishly in a gold jacket, tight jeans, a scarf, and lace-up boots.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Harding challenged Dudamel to a race around the bases, but before the pair could lace up their cleats, Dudamel quickly told him, “You will win.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
He suggests reading between the lines: If an email offers a starting time for sign-ups, but no end time, it may be because organizers expect things to go quickly, suggesting it’s time to lace up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
In the high society of 1880s New York, even plucky, forward-thinking heroines were expected to lace up tight for potential suitors.
From New York Times ● Dec. 13, 2023
After a week away, mourning the death of his father, the Russian didn’t wait long to lace up his skates and step onto the ice.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 22, 2023
And he bent to lace up his tennis shoes.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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.
