tidy

[ tahy-dee ]

adjective

, ti·di·er, ti·di·est.

1. neat, orderly, or trim, as in appearance or dress:

   a tidy room;

   a tidy person.

   Antonyms: sloppy, messy

2. clearly organized and systematic:

   a tidy mind;

   a tidy way of working.

3. tolerably good; acceptable:

   They worked out a tidy arrangement agreeable to all.

4. fairly large; considerable:

   a tidy sum.

verb (used with or without object)

, ti·died, ti·dy·ing.

1. to make tidy or neat (often followed by up ).

noun

, plural ti·dies.

1. any of various articles for keeping things tidy, as a box having small drawers and compartments.
2. an antimacassar.

tidy

/ ˈtaɪdɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or indicating neatness and order
2. informal.
   considerable

   a tidy sum of money

verb

1. whenintr, usually foll by up to put (things) in order; neaten

noun

1. 1. a small container in which odds and ends are kept
   2. a container with holes in the bottom, kept in the sink to retain rubbish that might clog the plug hole
2. an ornamental protective covering for the back or arms of a chair

Derived Forms

• ˈtidiness, noun
• ˈtidily, adverb

Other Words From

• tidi·ly adverb
• tidi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tidy¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English tidi, tidy “seasonable,” hence “good”; cognate with Dutch tijdig; equivalent to tide ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tidy¹

C13 (in the sense: timely, seasonable, excellent): from tide ¹+ -y ¹; related to Dutch tijdig timely

Example Sentences

It is a tidy date to start, but it looks like time wasted.

From BBC

Hand pruners are to gardeners what shoes are to fashionistas — you can never have too many — but I’ve come to realize that most days when I’m roaming the garden, all I really need is a small hand pruner to keep things tidy.

From Los Angeles Times

"The better I get it neat and tidy, the better I cope - not just with my disability, but also the mental illness and the abuse that underlies it."

From BBC

We were greeted by a row of tidy offices with large windows.

From Slate

Farmscape usually maintains the raised bed gardens they create, visiting the sites weekly to keep everything tidy, but Angel was so invested in doing the gardening herself that McLaughlin says her crews only come a couple times a year now to do seasonal maintenance such as helping her “flip” the beds from a summer garden of tomatoes, peppers, chard, basil and cucumbers to a winter garden heavy with greens, broccoli and sugar snap peas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• orderly
• sleek
• snug
• well-kept