Standard Lemma guide

underdress

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any dress (feminine-style garment) worn under another, especially under an overdress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any garment (any clothing) that is worn under another but is not underwear.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To dress in insufficiently warm clothes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To dress in insufficiently formal clothes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

dress informally and casually

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • On Fridays, employees can underdress

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dress down

Antonyms: overdress

Broader terms: dress, get dressed

6

verb

Meaning 6

dress without sufficient warmth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She was underdressed for the hiking trip and suffered hypothermia

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: overdress

Broader terms: dress, clothe, enclothe, garb, raiment, tog, garment, habilitate, fit out, apparel

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Indo-European *h1entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- English dress English underdress From under- + dress.