Word forms: comparative tidier, superlative tidiest, 3rd person singular presenttense tidies, present participle tidying, past tense, past participle tidied
1. adjective
Something that is tidy is neat and is arranged in an organized way.
Having a tidy desk can seem impossible if you have a busy, demanding job.
I'll do your garden, I'll keep that tidy for you.
Synonyms: neat, orderly, ordered, clean More Synonyms of tidy
tidily (taɪdɪli)adverb [ADVERB after verb, ADVERB -ed]
...books and magazines stacked tidily on shelves.
...some tidily arranged papers.
tidinessuncountable noun
Employees are expected to maintain a high standard of tidiness in their dress andappearance.
2. adjective
Someone who is tidy likes everything to be neat and arranged in an organized way.
She's obsessively tidy, always hoovering and polishing.
tidinessuncountable noun
I'm very impressed by your tidiness and order.
3. verb
When you tidy a place such as a room or cupboard, you make it neat by putting things in their proper places.
She made her bed, and tidied her room. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: neaten, straighten, put in order, order More Synonyms of tidy
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A tidy amount of money is a large amount.
[informal]
The opportunities are there to make a tidy profit.
Synonyms: considerable, large, substantial, good More Synonyms of tidy
Phrasal verbs:
See tidy away
See tidy up
More Synonyms of tidy
tidy in British English
(ˈtaɪdɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -dier or -diest
1.
characterized by or indicating neatness and order
2. informal
considerable
a tidy sum of money
3. bang tidy
verbWord forms: -dies, -dying or -died
4. (whenintr, usually foll by up)
to put (things) in order; neaten
nounWord forms: plural-dies
5.
a.
a small container in which odds and ends are kept
b. sink tidy
6. mainly US and Canadian
an ornamental protective covering for the back or arms of a chair
Derived forms
tidily (ˈtidily)
adverb
tidiness (ˈtidiness)
noun
Word origin
C13 (in the sense: timely, seasonable, excellent): from tide1 + -y1; related to Dutch tijdig timely
tidy in American English
(ˈtaɪdi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈtidier or ˈtidiest
1.
neat in personal appearance, ways, etc.; orderly
2.
neat in arrangement; in order; trim
3. Informal
a.
fairly good; satisfactory
b.
rather large; considerable
a tidy sum of money
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈtidied or ˈtidying
4.
to make (things) tidy
often with up
nounWord forms: pluralˈtidies
5.
antimacassar
6.
a small container for odds and ends
Derived forms
tidily (ˈtidily)
adverb
tidiness (ˈtidiness)
noun
Word origin
ME tidi, seasonable, honest, hence in good condition < tide: see tide1
tidy in Hospitality
(taɪdi)
Word forms: (present) tidies, (past) tidied, (perfect) tidied, (progressive) tidying
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): Housekeeping and maintenance)
When you tidy a place such as a room or closet, you make it neat by putting things in their properplaces.
The cleaner will tidy your room every day.
Housekeeping clean the rooms and tidy public areas.
Chambermaids tidy the rooms and make the beds while the guests are out.
Examples of 'tidy' in a sentence
tidy
Tenants also had an obligation to keep their gardens tidy and wash their curtains regularly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are both small, tidy birds and indefatigable divers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That leaves a tidy profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will also represent a tidy home improvement profit on the $85 million that she paid for it only five years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I keep the place tidy.
The Sun (2016)
This is the compost made by councils from the contents of your kitchen and garden waste bins, which you then buy back in a tidy circle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But my cleaning the car and tidying the garden do help keep the weight off me.
The Sun (2013)
They repay the loans in monthly instalments and we make a tidy profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Not a lot to do but was always tidy.
The Sun (2010)
Tidy it back in spring and then just let it do its stuff.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was totally incontinent and she was tidying his bed.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They keep a tidy house and they work till they drop.
The Sun (2011)
You could always spot him as he was so neat and tidy.
The Sun (2015)
The parks are clean and tidy and there is so much going on.
The Sun (2013)
Now get back to your desks and tidy up.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You are expected to provide fresh towels and sheets and to make sure your place is tidy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You have a tidy sum to spend clothes and have referenced two of our designers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Remember when your mum used to nag you about tidying your room?
The Sun (2014)
The teams can also make a tidy profit.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His tour bus bunk was always unnaturally tidy.
Christianity Today (2000)
Kept it neat and tidy at the back.
The Sun (2011)
And they make you put your bed tidy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is just a case of being neat and tidy.
The Sun (2014)
It also made me think about tidying my desk in the office.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Make sure your garden is tidy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If shame makes you tidy up, invite people over more often.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The easiest and most obvious thing to do is to make sure that the flat is clean and tidy and free from clutter.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I wanted to put people with tidy airing cupboards into awkward close contact with twentysomethings with ragged laundry in bin bags.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Just by spending 15-20 minutes once a week to make sure your wardrobes and storage cupboards are tidy will make you feel in control.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
tidy
British English: tidy /ˈtaɪdɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is tidy is neat and arranged in an orderly way.
...a tidy desk.
American English: tidy
Arabic: مُرَتَّب
Brazilian Portuguese: arrumado
Chinese: 整齐的
Croatian: uredan
Czech: uklizený
Danish: ryddelig
Dutch: netjes
European Spanish: ordenado
Finnish: siisti järjestyksessä
French: rangé
German: ordentlich
Greek: νοικοκυρεμένος
Italian: ordinato
Japanese: きちんとした
Korean: 단정한
Norwegian: ryddig
Polish: schludny
European Portuguese: arrumado
Romanian: curățel
Russian: аккуратный
Latin American Spanish: ordenado
Swedish: städad
Thai: ที่เป็นระเบียบ
Turkish: derli toplu tertipli
Ukrainian: охайний
Vietnamese: ngăn nắp
British English: tidy /ˈtaɪdɪ/ VERB
When you tidy a place, you make it neat by putting things in their proper places.
He tidied his garage.
American English: tidy
Arabic: يُرَتِّبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: arrumar
Chinese: 整理
Croatian: spremiti
Czech: poklidit
Danish: rydde op i
Dutch: opruimen
European Spanish: ordenar arreglar
Finnish: siivota
French: ranger
German: aufräumen
Greek: σιγυρίζω
Italian: ordinare
Japanese: 片付ける
Korean: 정돈하다
Norwegian: rydde
Polish: uporządkować
European Portuguese: arrumar
Romanian: a aranja
Russian: убирать
Latin American Spanish: ordenar colocar en modo conveniente
Swedish: städa
Thai: จัดให้เป็นระเบียบ
Turkish: toplamak ortalığı
Ukrainian: прибирати
Vietnamese: dọn dẹp
All related terms of 'tidy'
tidy-up
When you tidy up or tidy a place up , you put things back in their proper places so that everything is neat.
bang tidy
of exceptionally good quality
sink tidy
a container with holes in the bottom , kept in the sink to retain rubbish that might clog the plug hole
tidy away
When you tidy something away , you put it in something else so that it is not in the way .
tidy-out
the act of making something look better by removing things one does not want
Chinese translation of 'tidy'
tidy
(ˈtaɪdɪ)
adj
[room, desk, person]整洁(潔)的 (zhěngjié de)
(inf)[sum, profit]可观(觀)的 (kěguān de)
vt
[room, house etc] (also tidy up) 整理 (zhěnglǐ)
All related terms of 'tidy'
tidy up
整理 zhěnglǐ
tidy away
整理 zhěnglǐ
to keep the room tidy
保持房间(間)整洁(潔) bǎochí fángjiān zhěngjié
I wish you would tidy your room
但愿(願)你会(會)收拾你的房间(間) dànyuàn nǐ huì shōushi nǐ de fángjiān
to clean/tidy/clear up after sb
( for ) 替某人打扫(掃)/整理/清理 tì mǒurén dǎsǎo/zhěnglǐ/qīnglǐ
she's always going on at me to tidy my room
她总(總)是唠(嘮)唠(嘮)叨叨地要我清理房间(間) tā zǒngshì láolao-dāodao de yào wǒ qīnglǐ fángjiān
1 (adjective)
Definition
neat and orderly
Having a tidy desk can sometimes seem impossible.
Synonyms
neat
Her house was neat and tidy and gleamingly clean.
orderly
The vehicles were parked in orderly rows.
ordered
clean
I admire the clean lines of Shaker furniture.
trim
The neighbour's gardens were trim and neat.
systematic
They went about their business in a systematic way.
spruce
businesslike
well-kept
well-ordered
shipshape
We moved in and soon had the place shipshape.
spick-and-span
trig (archaic, dialect)
in apple-pie order (informal)
Opposites
disordered
,
messy
,
untidy
,
dirty
,
disorderly
,
filthy
,
sloppy
,
scruffy
,
in disarray
,
dishevelled
,
unkempt
,
slovenly
,
unsystematic
,
unbusinesslike
,
unmethodical
2 (adjective)
Definition
neat and orderly
She wasn't a tidy person.
Synonyms
organized
Such people are very organized and excellent time managers.
neat
She always looked neat and well groomed.
fastidious
methodical
She was methodical in her research.
smart
I was dressed in a smart navy-blue suit.
efficient
a highly efficient worker
spruce
Chris was looking spruce in his black shirt.
businesslike
Mr Penn sounds quite businesslike.
well-groomed
well-groomed young men in expensive suits
well turned out
3 (adjective)
Definition
quite large
(informal)
The opportunities are there to make a tidy profit.
Synonyms
considerable
We have already spent a considerable amount of money on repairs.
large
In a large room about a dozen children are sitting on the carpet.
substantial
That is a very substantial improvement in the current situation.
good
A good number of people agree with me.
goodly
He spent a goodly part of his life in America.
fair
healthy
generous
a room with a generous amount of storage space
handsome
They will make a handsome profit on the property.
respectable
respectable and highly attractive rates of return
ample
The design gave ample space for a good-sized kitchen.
largish
sizable or sizeable
Opposites
little
,
small
,
tiny
,
insignificant
,
inconsiderable
(verb)
Definition
to put (things) in their proper place
She made her bed and tidied her room.
Synonyms
neaten
Trim and neaten the edges of the fabric.
straighten
She looked in the mirror and straightened her hair.
put in order
order
Entries in the book are ordered alphabetically.
clean
Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin.
It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath.
groom
She always appeared perfectly groomed.
spruce up
put to rights
put in trim
Opposites
disorder
,
mess up
,
dirty
,
mess
,
dishevel
,
muss (US, Canadian)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ample
Definition
more than sufficient
The design gave ample space for a good-sized kitchen.
Synonyms
plenty of,
great,
rich,
liberal,
broad,
generous,
lavish,
spacious,
abounding,
abundant,
plentiful,
expansive,
copious,
roomy,
unrestricted,
voluminous,
capacious,
profuse,
commodious,
plenteous,
enough and to spare
in the sense of businesslike
Definition
efficient and methodical
Mr Penn sounds quite businesslike.
Synonyms
efficient,
professional,
practical,
regular,
correct,
organized,
routine,
thorough,
systematic,
orderly,
matter-of-fact,
methodical,
well-ordered,
workaday
in the sense of clean
Definition
simple and streamlined in design
I admire the clean lines of Shaker furniture.
Synonyms
neat,
simple,
elegant,
trim,
delicate,
tidy,
graceful,
uncluttered
Synonyms of 'tidy'
tidy
Explore 'tidy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clean
Definition
to make or become free of dirt
Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin.It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath.
Synonyms
cleanse,
wash,
bath,
sweep,
dust,
wipe,
vacuum,
scrub,
sponge,
rinse,
mop,
launder,
scour,
purify,
do up,
swab,
disinfect,
lave,
deodorize,
sanitize,
deep clean
in the sense of efficient
Definition
working or producing effectively without wasting effort, energy, or money
a highly efficient worker
Synonyms
competent,
able,
professional,
capable,
organized,
productive,
skilful,
adept,
ready,
proficient,
businesslike,
well-organized,
workmanlike
in the sense of generous
Definition
large or plentiful
a room with a generous amount of storage space
Synonyms
plentiful,
lavish,
ample,
abundant,
full,
rich,
liberal,
overflowing,
copious,
bountiful,
unstinting,
profuse,
bounteous (literary),
plenteous
in the sense of good
Definition
complete or thorough
A good number of people agree with me.
Synonyms
considerable,
large,
substantial,
sufficient,
adequate,
ample
in the sense of goodly
Definition
fairly large
He spent a goodly part of his life in America.
Synonyms
considerable,
large,
significant,
substantial,
tidy (informal),
ample,
sizable or sizeable
in the sense of groom
Definition
to keep (oneself or one's appearance) clean and tidy
She always appeared perfectly groomed.
Synonyms
smarten up,
dress,
clean,
turn out,
get up (informal),
tidy,
preen,
spruce up,
primp,
gussy up (slang, US)
in the sense of handsome
Definition
(of an amount of money) generous or large
They will make a handsome profit on the property.
Synonyms
generous,
large,
princely,
liberal,
considerable,
lavish,
ample,
abundant,
plentiful,
bountiful,
sizable or sizeable
in the sense of large
Definition
having a relatively great size, quantity, or extent
In a large room about a dozen children are sitting on the carpet.
Synonyms
massive,
great,
big,
huge,
giant,
vast,
enormous,
considerable,
substantial,
immense,
tidy (informal),
jumbo (informal),
gigantic,
monumental (informal),
mammoth,
colossal,
gargantuan,
stellar (informal),
king-size,
ginormous (informal),
Brobdingnagian,
humongous or humungous (US, slang),
sizable or sizeable,
supersize
in the sense of methodical
Definition
careful, well-organized, and systematic
She was methodical in her research.
Synonyms
orderly,
planned,
ordered,
structured,
regular,
disciplined,
organized,
efficient,
precise,
neat,
deliberate,
tidy,
systematic,
meticulous,
painstaking,
businesslike,
well-regulated
in the sense of order
Definition
to arrange (things) methodically or in their proper places
Entries in the book are ordered alphabetically.
Synonyms
arrange,
group,
sort,
class,
position,
range,
file,
rank,
line up,
organize,
set out,
sequence,
catalogue,
sort out,
classify,
array,
dispose,
tidy,
marshal,
lay out,
tabulate,
systematize,
neaten,
put in order,
set in order,
put to rights
Additional synonyms
in the sense of orderly
Definition
tidy or well-organized
The vehicles were parked in orderly rows.
Synonyms
well-organized,
ordered,
regular,
in order,
organized,
trim,
precise,
neat,
tidy,
systematic,
businesslike,
methodical,
well-kept,
shipshape,
systematized,
well-regulated,
in apple-pie order (informal)
in the sense of respectable
Definition
relatively or fairly good
respectable and highly attractive rates of return
Synonyms
reasonable,
considerable,
substantial,
fair,
tidy (informal),
ample,
tolerable (informal),
presentable,
appreciable,
fairly good,
sizable or sizeable,
goodly
in the sense of shipshape
Definition
neat or orderly
We moved in and soon had the place shipshape.
Synonyms
tidy,
neat,
orderly,
trim,
businesslike,
well-organized,
uncluttered,
well-ordered,
well-regulated,
spick-and-span,
trig (archaic, dialect),
Bristol fashion
in the sense of smart
Definition
clean and neatly dressed
I was dressed in a smart navy-blue suit.
Synonyms
chic,
trim,
neat,
fashionable,
stylish,
fine,
elegant,
trendy (British, informal),
spruce,
snappy,
natty (informal),
modish,
well turned-out,
schmick (Australian, informal)
in the sense of spruce
Definition
neat and smart
Chris was looking spruce in his black shirt.
Synonyms
smart,
trim,
neat,
elegant,
dainty,
dapper,
natty (informal),
well-groomed,
well turned out,
trig (archaic, dialect),
as if you had just stepped out of a bandbox,
soigné or soignée
in the sense of straighten
Definition
to make (something) neat or tidy
She looked in the mirror and straightened her hair.
Synonyms
neaten,
arrange,
tidy (up),
order,
spruce up,
smarten up,
put in order,
set or put to rights
in the sense of substantial
Definition
of a considerable size or value
That is a very substantial improvement in the current situation.
Synonyms
big,
significant,
considerable,
goodly,
large,
important,
generous,
worthwhile,
tidy (informal),
ample,
sizable or sizeable
in the sense of systematic
Definition
following a fixed plan and done in an efficient and methodical way
They went about their business in a systematic way.