How to pronounce dress
Say it like DRES. Dress is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dress pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DRESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of dress
American and British speakers say dress in essentially the same way: /drɛs/ in the US and /drɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRES.
What does dress mean?
- put on clothes“we had to dress quickly”“dress the patient”
- provide with clothes or put clothes on“Parents must feed and dress their child”
- put a finish on“dress the surface smooth”
- a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
- clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion“formal attire”“battle dress”
- clothing in general“she was refined in her choice of apparel”“he always bought his clothes at the same store”
- suitable for formal occasions“formal wear”“a full-dress uniform”
- (of an occasion) requiring formal clothes“a dress dinner”“a full-dress ceremony”
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with dress
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dress.
Questions about saying dress
How do you pronounce dress?
Say DRES. The American pronunciation is /drɛs/. In British English it is /drɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dress?
Dress is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DRES.
Do Americans and Brits say dress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /drɛs/ and the British form is /drɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.