neat
NEET
Neat (adj) means Tidy and orderly; clean in appearance. Example: “The children lined their shoes up in a neat row by the door.”
adj
1
Tidy and orderly; clean in appearance.
"The children lined their shoes up in a neat row by the door."
"He kept his desk perfectly neat."
"She writes in small, neat handwriting."
2
Of a spirit or drink: served pure, without ice, water, or mixer.
"Some people prefer gin neat, while others add plenty of tonic."
"The waiter asked whether she wanted the brandy neat or with ice."
"He drinks his whisky neat."
3
Skilfully or cleverly done; elegant in a simple way.
"She came up with a neat trick for folding fitted sheets."
"The magician's neat sleight of hand fooled the whole audience."
"That was a neat solution to the problem."
intj
1
Used informally to express approval; cool, great.
"Neat! The tickets arrived just in time for the concert."
""You got us front-row seats? Neat!" he said with a grin."
""Neat! You fixed it already.""
How to use neat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTidy and well-ordered, or (with drinks) served without anything added.
UK vs US
In UK English "neat" for a drink (no ice, no mixer) is standard; American English sometimes uses "straight" the same way.
Common pairings
neat and tidy
whisky neat
a neat trick
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Word forms
- Plural
- neats
Fill the gap
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The children lined their shoes up in a _____ row by the door.
Etymology
From Old French net ("clean, clear"), from Latin nitidus ("gleaming, shining").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for neat
See all rhymes for neat →Frequently asked questions
What does “neat” mean?
The word “neat” means tidy and orderly; clean in appearance. In plain terms, tidy and well-ordered, or (with drinks) served without anything added.
How do you pronounce “neat”?
“Neat” is pronounced NEET (/ˈniːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “neat” in a sentence?
Here is “neat” used in a sentence: “He kept his desk perfectly neat.”
What part of speech is “neat”?
Depending on how it is used, “neat” can be an adjective and an intj.
Where does the word “neat” come from?
The word “neat” comes from Latin. From Old French net ("clean, clear"), from Latin nitidus ("gleaming, shining").
Is “neat” a common word?
“Neat” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “neat” have?
“Neat” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: tidy and orderly; clean in appearance.
What is the difference between "neat" and "tidy"?
Both describe something orderly and free of mess, and they are often interchangeable. "Tidy" tends to stress the result of putting things in order, while "neat" can also suggest a pleasing, trim, well-arranged appearance.
What is the difference between a drink served "neat" and "on the rocks"?
A drink served "neat" has nothing added to it, while "on the rocks" means the same drink is served over ice. "Neat" is room temperature; "on the rocks" is chilled by the ice.
Is using "neat" to mean "great" formal or informal?
It is informal and conversational, used as a casual expression of approval, as in "That's really neat!" This sense can sound slightly dated or wholesome and would be out of place in formal writing.
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