tidy

American  

[tahy-dee] / ˈtaɪ di /

adjective

tidier, tidiest

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.

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verb (used with or without object)

tidied, tidying

1. to make tidy or neat (often followed byup ).

noun

plural

tidies

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

2. an antimacassar.

tidy British  

/ ˈtaɪdɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or indicating neatness and order

2. informal considerable

   a tidy sum of money

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verb

1. 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

Other Word Forms

• tidily
  adverb
• tidiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tidy

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

Explanation

Use the adjective tidy for something that is neat and clean. If your desk were more tidy, you would be able to find your computer. Tidy (or tidy up) also means “to clean up” and is also a noun for a container for small objects, like scraps or sewing materials. These senses of tidy have a formal or even old-fashioned note. (We’re more likely to say clean, organize, or bin now in everyday conversation.) Tidy is also an informal adjective meaning "large or considerable." If you can put the word tidy before your profit or the sum in your bank account, it’s a good thing.

Example Sentences

A survey conducted by Keep Wales Tidy between April and December 2025 found that litter was present on 98.8% of A and B roads in Wales.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Charity campaign Keep Wales Tidy said the focus should be on owners taking more responsibility, especially as the winter months usually bring a "huge uptick" in dog fouling cases.

From BBC • Aug. 18, 2025

Despite declaring "a litter emergency" in 2022, Keep Scotland Tidy also warned that litter levels continued to rise.

From BBC • May 8, 2025

Tidy exposition to clarify the horrors is absent.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2024

Tidy nannies bought Amber orb-powered toys for children in fresh-pressed school uniforms.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

Related Words

• orderly
• sleek
• snug
• well-kept