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Synonyms

undress

American  
[uhn-dres] / ʌnˈdrɛs /

verb (used with object)

undressed, undrest, undressing
  1. to take the clothes off (a person); disrobe.

  2. to remove the dressing from (a wound, sore, etc.).

  3. to strip or divest of or as if of a covering; expose.

    to undress a pretense.


verb (used without object)

undressed, undrest, undressing
  1. to take off one's clothes.

noun

  1. dress of a style designed to be worn on other than highly formal or ceremonial occasions; informal dress as opposed to full dress.

  2. dress of a style not designed to be worn in public; dishabille; negligee.

    She couldn't receive guests in such a state of undress.

  3. the condition of being unclothed; nakedness.

adjective

  1. of or relating to clothing of a style less formal than full dress.

    undress uniform.

  2. characterized by informality of dress, manners, or the like.

    an undress dinner party.

undress British  

verb

  1. to take off clothes from (oneself or another)

  2. (tr) to strip of ornamentation

  3. (tr) to remove the dressing from (a wound)

"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

noun

  1. partial or complete nakedness

  2. informal or normal working clothes or uniform

"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

adjective

  1. characterized by or requiring informal or normal working dress or uniform

"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

Etymology

Origin of undress

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- 2 + dress

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.

Butt or buck, the Lakers are showing that they can undress a defense.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2025

They further claim that, once in the home, the men were told to undress in the kitchen, and then to warm their hands with hot water or on a radiator.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2024

The military said it makes detainees undress to search for explosives, bringing detainees into Israel before releasing them back into Gaza if they’re deemed innocent.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2024

When she’d get home from a long day, she’d undress outside and sprint to the shower, worried about exposing her wife and two children to the coronavirus.

From Washington Post • Oct. 15, 2021

I didn’t undress, but instead lay on Mamá’s bed fully clothed with my back to the door.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall