tidy

[tahy-dee]

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.

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

/ ˈtaɪdɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or indicating neatness and order

2. informal,  considerable

   a tidy sum of money

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

• tidiness noun
• tidily adverb

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

Friendship reaffirmed, they then made time to hang out, even through the "mundane connection" of tidying together.

Read more on BBC

They found that Y1Rneurons didn't form two tidy anatomical or molecular populations.

Read more on Science Daily

A jet-like turbine sucks air in and forces it out the narrow business end in a tidy beam.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pop superstar follows up last year’s messy ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ with a tidy collaboration with Max Martin and Shellback.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We’ll see if it’s as tidy as it needed to be.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• orderly 
• sleek 
• snug 
• well-kept