verb
embellish
ihm-BEH-lihsh
Embellish (verb) means to decorate something to make it more attractive. Example: “The dress was embellished with tiny pearls.”
verb
1
To decorate something to make it more attractive.
"The dress was embellished with tiny pearls."
2
To make a story sound more interesting or impressive than it really is, often by exaggerating or adding invented details.
"He tends to embellish his stories every time he tells them."
"She embellished the account of the trip to make it sound more dramatic."
How to use embellish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo add extra detail or decoration — literally to an object, or figuratively to a story, sometimes stretching the truth.
Common mistake
When used of a story, it usually implies a gentle exaggeration rather than an outright lie — softer than saying someone 'fabricated' something.
Common pairings
embellish a story
embellish the truth
embellished with detail
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- embellishes
- Past tense
- embellished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dress was _____ with tiny pearls.
Etymology
From Old French embellir, "to make beautiful", from bel ("beautiful") — the same root as "beauty" and "belle".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for embellish
See all rhymes for embellish →Frequently asked questions
What does “embellish” mean?
The word “embellish” means to decorate something to make it more attractive. In plain terms, to add extra detail or decoration — literally to an object, or figuratively to a story, sometimes stretching the truth.
How do you pronounce “embellish”?
“Embellish” is pronounced ihm-BEH-lihsh (/ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “embellish” in a sentence?
Here is “embellish” used in a sentence: “The dress was embellished with tiny pearls.”
What is another word for “embellish”?
Words with a similar meaning to “embellish” include adorn, beautify, decorate, deck, grace and ornament.
What part of speech is “embellish”?
“Embellish” is a verb.
Where does the word “embellish” come from?
The word “embellish” comes from Old French. From Old French embellir, "to make beautiful", from bel ("beautiful") — the same root as "beauty" and "belle".
How many meanings does “embellish” have?
“Embellish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to decorate something to make it more attractive.
