undress

[ uhn-dres ]

verb (used with object)

, un·dressed or un·drest, un·dress·ing.

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)

, un·dressed or un·drest, un·dress·ing.

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

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)

noun

1. partial or complete nakedness
2. informal or normal working clothes or uniform

adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of undress¹

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

Example Sentences

All around, people in the NorthwestKeeping off the sidewalk, staying home and undressed.

From Washington Post

When she visited Salsman to make her last payment on that loan, he allegedly told her to undress while alone in his office.

From Washington Post

Don’t worry, it says it’s using them to help you become more attractive, not to amass compromising photos of you in various states of undress.

From Washington Post

In June of 2019, Vice uncovered the existence of a disturbing app that used AI to “undress” women.

From MIT Technology Review

If I want to undress in a photo or in a video, even if I feel sorry, I strip myself of complexes and do it.

From Washington Blade

Another fighter has on a black mask such as a beheader would wear and now begins to undress to join Crawford and their pals.

From The Daily Beast

Johansson begins to undress, too, but while she keeps walking, you sink into a liquid prison.

From The Daily Beast

A few portraits were taken, and she says she was instructed by Richardson to undress.

From The Daily Beast

Will he paint Mantel in a similar state of undress to his notorious Kate pic?

From The Daily Beast

So what was his reaction to the photos taken recently of Kate and Harry in various states of undress?

From The Daily Beast

So the result was that Captain Calderon yielded with the best grace he could, and commenced to undress.

From Project Gutenberg

They were soon inside the tent, and, too weary to undress, threw themselves down with their clothes on to sleep.

From Project Gutenberg

Undress: Short blue jacket with round collar, single-breasted—six buttons in front, and three on each cuff.

From Project Gutenberg

Hal got his hat, and the chums went forth, again in their tennis flannel undress.

From Project Gutenberg

There he knelt for a short time in earnest devotion, and then arose, that he might undress and prepare for the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disrobe
• unmask