dressing

noun

dress·​ing ˈdre-siŋ How to pronounce dressing (audio)
Synonyms of dressingnext
1
a
: the act or process of one who dresses
b
: an instance of such act or process
2
a
: a sauce for adding to a dish (such as a salad)
b
: a seasoned mixture usually used as a stuffing (as for poultry)
3
a
: material (such as ointment or gauze) applied to cover a lesion or wound
b
: fertilizing material (such as manure or compost)

Examples of dressing in a Sentence

We had turkey with dressing and potatoes for dinner. The nurse cleaned the cut and applied a dressing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Finished with a creamy tahini dressing. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 In its place is a more versatile, understated version of the silhouette — one that feels equally suited for minimalist dressing, quiet-luxury styling and modern eveningwear. Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 30 May 2026 It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026 White listeners and white supremacy are always ripe for a dressing down, but there’s no teeth or edge to his provocations anymore. Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dressing

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dressing was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dressing. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

dressing

noun
dress·​ing ˈdres-iŋ How to pronounce dressing (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of one that dresses
b
: an instance of dressing
2
a
: a sauce for adding to a dish
b
: a seasoned mixture used as a stuffing (as for poultry) or baked and served separately
3
a
: material (as ointment or gauze) used to cover an injury
b
: fertilizing material (as manure or compost)

Medical Definition

dressing

noun
dress·​ing -iŋ How to pronounce dressing (audio)
: a covering (as of ointment or gauze) applied to a lesion

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