To wear

= to have clothes on your body
You wear clothes.

• This is the most common verb used to talk about clothes.

What are you wearing today?

I’m going to wear my new shoes to school tomorrow!

He wore a tie yesterday.

I haven’t worn this dress in ages [=in a long time]!

 

• Similar to wear, you can also have clothes on or have on clothes.

What is she wearing? She has a red sweater on.

Have you seen Ben today? He has on a new suit!

 

To dress

= to put clothes on yourself or someone else

• After you dress yourself, you are wearing clothes.

It’s cold outside so dress warmly! [= put on warm clothing]

I always dress to impress!

She likes to dress her children in stylish clothing.

 

• Dressed as an adjective. It means ‘wearing clothes.’

She is dressed in a vintage Givenchy gown.

We are dressed for success!

She is always so well-dressed.

I’m not dressed for this kind of weather.

 

• Get dressed = put clothes on (yourself); this is more common and less formal than dress.

Aren’t you dressed yet? Hurry up and get dressed!

I didn’t get dressed until after lunch!

In the morning I wake up, shower, get dressed, and then eat breakfast.