spruce up
phrasal verb
Did you know?
titivate, spruce up, smarten up, or spiff up?
Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate.
Examples of spruce up in a Sentence
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
And sometimes, buying prepared bamboo shoots in a can is the easiest way to spruce up a dish.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
For those looking to spruce up their patio, front porch, or backyard, decor like these solar lights and this floral outdoor rug can give your space a gentle upgrade without a lot of effort (or money).
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
The Good Night, and Good Luck actor spruced up for the event in a navy suit with a crisp white shirt and popped collar, while Amal also went down the monochromatic route in a white column halter dress featuring a metal embellishment.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce up
Cite this Entry
“Spruce up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spruce%20up. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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