untidyun‧ti‧dy /ʌnˈtaɪdi/ adjective especially British English 
an untidy desk untidy hair Her clothes were in an untidy heap on the floor.RegisterIn American English and in everyday British English, people usually say messy rather than untidy:· His room is always so messy.2someone who is untidy does not keep their house, possessions etc neat SYN messy—untidily adverb—untidiness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSplaceuntidy British English not tidy – used especially when things have not been put back in their correct place: · an untidy bedroom· an untidy desk· The house was cramped and untidy.messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · a messy kitchen· You’ve made the table all messy.be a mess (also be in a mess British English) informal to be very untidy or dirty: · The whole house is in a mess, but I didn’t have time to clean it up.· Sorry everything’s such a mess.cluttered untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · She gazed around the cluttered kitchen.· The office was cluttered with books.· Her desk was too cluttered.unkempt untidy and not well-looked after – used about gardens or land: · unkempt lawns· They walked into a wild and unkempt garden.· an unkempt plot in the cemeterybe a pigsty/pit informal used when saying that a place is very untidy and dirty, and someone should clean it: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don’t know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room’s a total pit, but I’m too lazy to clean it.personuntidy British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone’s appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc: · She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.· He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · You’ve made my hair all messy.· a messy eaterscruffy British English wearing old and untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.· She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.slovenly especially written untidy and lazy: · The servants were old and slovenly.· his slovenly appearance· The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.bedraggled used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.dishevelled British English, disheveled American English if someone’s hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place: · Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.· a dishevelled old man· The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.unkempt especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look: · a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair· The man looked tired and unkempt.slob noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He was comically tall and thin with a long growth of untidy beard.
- The little children were dirty and untidy, but very happy.
- I don't remember every single item in every untidy report that the two of you have ever put in.
- Is she really free to be as tidy or untidy as she pleases?
- It was a delightful, careless room, untidy and rather deficient in comfortable chairs.
- The darkness of the long winter night had settled when the train came to an untidy halt at Pot'ma station.
- The room was untidy, dusty, and much used.
- This was in a most untidy state.
- Woe betide anyone who was untidy or out of step on one of the marches.
THESAURUSplace
British English not tidy – used especially when things have not been put back in their correct place: · an untidy bedroom· an untidy desk· The house was cramped and untidy.
untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · a messy kitchen· You’ve made the table all messy.
(also be in a mess British English) informal to be very untidy or dirty: · The whole house is in a mess, but I didn’t have time to clean it up.· Sorry everything’s such a mess.
untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · She gazed around the cluttered kitchen.· The office was cluttered with books.· Her desk was too cluttered.
untidy and not well-looked after – used about gardens or land: · unkempt lawns· They walked into a wild and unkempt garden.· an unkempt plot in the cemetery
informal used when saying that a place is very untidy and dirty, and someone should clean it: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don’t know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room’s a total pit, but I’m too lazy to clean it.
person British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone’s appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc: · She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.· He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.
untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · You’ve made my hair all messy.· a messy eater
British English wearing old and untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.· She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
especially written untidy and lazy: · The servants were old and slovenly.· his slovenly appearance· The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.
used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.
British English, disheveled American English if someone’s hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place: · Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.· a dishevelled old man· The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.
especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look: · a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair· The man looked tired and unkempt.
noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.
Longman Language Activatorplace/room also untidy British if a place is messy or untidy , things have been left carelessly in different parts of it instead of being neatly arranged: · She felt uncomfortable in such a messy house.· He only cleans up his room when it gets really messy.· My desk isn't always this messy - I've been working on a major project.· Jan found the professor in a small, untidy office.· These drawers are so untidy - I can never find what I'm looking for.
also be in a mess British informal if a place is a mess or is in a mess , it is very untidy and dirty: · Please sit down. Sorry everything's such a mess.· My basement is a complete mess and has been for years.· The whole house is in a mess, but I didn't have time to clean it up.
untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · He works in a cluttered studio that looks like a mechanic's garage.· The trailer was cluttered and cramped, with barely enough room to turn around.cluttered with: · The room was tiny, its walls cluttered with paintings and old photographs.
informal a place that is untidy and dirty: · The Ewells' place is a real dump.· Why don't you do something about your room - it's a dump.
also pit American informal an untidy and very dirty place: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don't know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room's a total pit, but I'm too lazy to clean it.
British informal a very untidy place: · Your room's an absolute tip!· It was a very nice house until they moved in and turned it into a tip.
person/clothes/hair British /messy American someone who is untidy does not keep their clothes, hair etc neatly arranged: · The little children were dirty and untidy, but very happy.· Her hair was messy and her lipstick was smudged.· He was comically tall and thin with a long growth of untidy beard.
also look a mess British informal to look very untidy: · I can't go out looking like this - I'm a mess.· When the police called, I had just got up, and my hair looked a mess.
British someone who is scruffy is wearing old, untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.scruffy clothes/jeans/sweater etc: · She's wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
extremely untidy and careless, and often dirty: · Their landlady was fat and slovenly.· The aide was hired to keep the governor's slovenly brother out of the public eye.
informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo's such a slob - how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one's ever going to ask you for a date.
especially written someone whose clothes or hair are unkempt , has made no effort to try to look clean or tidy: · Hoskins beard was tangled and unkempt.· She used to dress so neatly, but now her hair and clothes had become unkempt and dirty.
British /disheveled American someone who is dishevelled has untidy hair and clothes, often because they have been in a hurry, or have been travelling or working hard: · He looked dusty, disheveled, and very tired.· The actress was found disheveled and confused in a Los Angeles back yard.· She was conscious of her rather dishevelled appearance.
someone who is bedraggled looks untidy, especially because they are wet or muddy: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled after the storm.
if clothes are rumpled , they have lots of creases in them and they look untidy. (Creases are lines where something has been folded.): · Forman was wearing a rumpled sweatsuit and a three-day beard.· Her dress was as rumpled as if she'd slept in it.
to make a place messy to make a place untidy or dirty: · Eric, you're making a mess - I hope you're planning to clean it up.· You can bake some cookies if you promise not to make a mess in the kitchen.
informal to make a place untidy or dirty: mess something up: · Don't mess up the living room - we have company coming tonight.mess up something: · Who's messed up my nice clean kitchen?
if a lot of things clutter a room, desk etc, they make it untidy, especially because there is not enough space for them: · Toys cluttered the nursery floor.clutter up something/clutter something up: · I don't want your old newspapers and magazines cluttering up the house.be cluttered (up) with: · All the available space around her computer is cluttered with papers.· His house was cluttered up with the things he had collected.
when things are spread around in a messy way when things are spread around everywhere in a dirty, untidy way: · We spent the morning tidying up the mess after the party.· There were cups and ashtrays everywhere - what a mess!· We love having our grandchildren visit, but they always leave such a mess for us to clean up.
when everything is very untidy, nothing is organized, and there is no order or system: · We've just moved into the new office and I've no idea where anything is - it's chaos!in chaos (=in a state of chaos): · I arrived home unexpectedly and found the house in chaos.
when a lot of things have been left together in one place, especially unnecessary things that prevent you from moving around easily: · It seemed impossible for her to keep the house free of clutter.clutter of: · On the dresser a clutter of compacts, rouges, and lipsticks lie half open.
informal a place that is very messy or dirty: · I'd invite you in, but my place is a disaster.· The kids room is always a disaster area.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1not neat SYN messy: · There was a small untidy garden behind the house.
I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.· Jeans were out, likewise long and untidy hair, while beards were not encouraged.· White, thin, with big dark eyes and untidy hair.· Fran ran a hand over her damp face and smoothed her untidy hair.
an untidy desk untidy hair Her clothes were in an untidy heap on the floor.RegisterIn American English and in everyday British English, people usually say messy rather than untidy:· His room is always so messy.2someone who is untidy does not keep their house, possessions etc neat SYN messy—untidily adverb—untidiness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSplaceuntidy British English not tidy – used especially when things have not been put back in their correct place: · an untidy bedroom· an untidy desk· The house was cramped and untidy.messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · a messy kitchen· You’ve made the table all messy.be a mess (also be in a mess British English) informal to be very untidy or dirty: · The whole house is in a mess, but I didn’t have time to clean it up.· Sorry everything’s such a mess.cluttered untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · She gazed around the cluttered kitchen.· The office was cluttered with books.· Her desk was too cluttered.unkempt untidy and not well-looked after – used about gardens or land: · unkempt lawns· They walked into a wild and unkempt garden.· an unkempt plot in the cemeterybe a pigsty/pit informal used when saying that a place is very untidy and dirty, and someone should clean it: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don’t know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room’s a total pit, but I’m too lazy to clean it.personuntidy British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone’s appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc: · She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.· He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · You’ve made my hair all messy.· a messy eaterscruffy British English wearing old and untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.· She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.slovenly especially written untidy and lazy: · The servants were old and slovenly.· his slovenly appearance· The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.bedraggled used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.dishevelled British English, disheveled American English if someone’s hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place: · Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.· a dishevelled old man· The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.unkempt especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look: · a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair· The man looked tired and unkempt.slob noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.