tidy

14 synonyms and 3 antonyms for tidy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Neatly arranged; not messy or cluttered.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

healthy clean fit

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

respectable orderly straighten

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

hefty goodly kempt goodish presentable spick and span seasonable neaten

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Neatly arranged; not messy or cluttered.

“She keeps her desk perfectly tidy.”

hefty goodly healthy kempt goodish respectable orderly presentable spick and span clean seasonable fit

Opposites

messy untidy slipshod

2. verb

To make something neat and organized.

“Can you tidy up the kitchen before dinner?”

straighten neaten

How to use tidy

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

tidy up a tidy sum keep it tidy

Etymology

From Middle English tidy, originally meaning "timely" or "seasonable," from "tide" (time) plus "-y." The meaning shifted over centuries from "in good time" to "neat and orderly."

Full origin of tidy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tidy” mean?

The word “tidy” means neatly arranged; not messy or cluttered. In plain terms, neat and well-organized, or, informally, a decent-sized amount (especially of money).

How do you pronounce “tidy”?

“Tidy” is pronounced TEYE-dee (/ˈtaɪ.di/ in IPA).

How do you use “tidy” in a sentence?

Here is “tidy” used in a sentence: “She keeps her desk perfectly tidy.”

What is another word for “tidy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “tidy” include orderly, presentable, spick and span, clean, seasonable and fit.

What is the opposite of “tidy”?

The opposite of “tidy” — its antonyms — are messy, untidy and slipshod.

What part of speech is “tidy”?

Depending on how it is used, “tidy” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “tidy” come from?

The word “tidy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tidy, originally meaning "timely" or "seasonable," from "tide" (time) plus "-y." The meaning shifted over centuries from "in good time" to "neat and orderly.".

Is “tidy” a common word?

“Tidy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

People also searched

clean fit healthy messy respectable orderly straighten hefty spick and span neaten seasonable goodly

Nearby words

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