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

They arrived alongside Kraft mac and cheese and green beans, the plate a tidy arrangement of beige, orange and green.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Color resists precise description much as language resists tidy definition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

James Trafford had little to do on his debut in goal, while another making his first full appearance, Everton's James Garner, was tidy and made a good impression.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

In her tidy Alhambra home studio, she meticulously assembles out-of-this-world tableaux in saturated, punchy hues.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

She was surprised to realize she’d missed the rhythm of cooking, the tidy feeling of ingredients coming together.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• orderly
• sleek
• snug
• well-kept