verb
BAD : Then I wore some clothes and went downstairs.
GOOD : Then I put on some clothes and went downstairs.
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GET DRESSED · DRESS ONESELF · PUT ON · TAKE OFF · DRESS · DRESS UP · WEAR · HAVE ON · BE + ADV · DRESSED
ACTIONS
Get dressed When you get dressed you put on your clothes or a different set of clothes: ‘I had a shower, got dressed and went downstairs.’ ‘I was still getting dressed for the party when the taxi arrived.’
Dress oneself is not common. It is mainly used when you are thinking about the special skill or ability that is required to put on clothes: ‘Sally isn’t old enough to dress herself yet.’
Put on When you put on a piece of clothing or a watch, necklace etc, you put it into position on your body: ‘Wait a minute! I haven’t put my coat on yet.’ ‘Put your gloves on or your hands will get cold.’
Take off is the opposite of put on : ‘I can’t wait to take off these new shoes.’ ‘Why don’t you take your coat off and come and sit down?’
Dress up If you dress up you put on: (1) a special costume: ‘When the children were young, George used to dress up as Father Christmas.’
(2) formal or smart clothes: ‘We won’t be going to an expensive restaurant so there’s no need to dress up.’
STATES
Wear When you wear something, it is on a part of your body: ‘Did you notice the jacket she was wearing at Alan’s party?’ ‘He always wears smart clothes.’
Have on If you have something on , you are wearing it: ‘The trousers he had on were too big for him.’ ‘You won’t get cold as long as you have a coat on.’
Be dressed in/be in If you are dressed in or are in something, you are wearing it: ‘She arrived at the theatre dressed in a long white gown.’ ‘Everyone was in their best clothes, but Alex turned up in an old T-shirt and jeans.’
Be + adverb + dressed When you are talking about someone’s appearance, you can say that they are smartly/neatly/well etc dressed ‘Make sure you’re smartly dressed for the interview.’ ‘He’s always very well dressed – smart jackets, silk ties and so on.’