tidy

1 of 3

adjective

ti·​dy ˈtī-dē 

tidier; tidiest

1

a

: neat and orderly in appearance or habits : well ordered and cared for

b

: methodical, precise

a tidy mind

2

: large, substantial

a tidy profit

3

: adequately satisfactory : acceptable, fair

a tidy solution to their problem

4

: properly filled out : plump

tidily

ˈtī-də-lē 

adverb

tidiness

ˈtī-dē-nəs 

noun

tidy

2 of 3

verb

tidied; tidying

transitive verb

: to put in order

tidy up a room

intransitive verb

: to make things tidy

tidying up after supper

tidier noun

tidy

3 of 3

noun

plural tidies

1

: a usually compartmentalized receptacle for various small objects

2

: a piece of fancywork used to protect the back, arms, or headrest of a chair or sofa from wear or soil

Synonyms of tidy

Adjective

• neat
• tidied
• trim
• orderly
• uncluttered

Verb

• clean (up)
• clean house
• set straight

Examples of tidy in a Sentence

Adjective

He has always been a tidy person.

She earns a tidy salary.

They paid a tidy sum for the house.

Verb

I tidied the house before they arrived.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cousins’ two years with the Falcons weren’t the tidiest, and if inconsistent play follows him to Las Vegas, his 15th season could be his last chance to contribute. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Since 2017, Hebden has built up a tidy discography of sub rosa loosies and EPs under the alias, and even snuck out an ultra-limited vinyl anthology of them in 2021; some of those tracks first surfaced on the Four Tet album Parallel, in 2020. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026

Verb

Simply getting in the habit of taking a couple of minutes each night to tidy up the kitchen is a game-changer. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026

The luxurious amenity of having someone else clean and tidy your living space is practically priceless. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, timely, in good condition, from tide time

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1821, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tidy

• neat and tidy
• tidy away
• tidy tips
• tidy up after (someone)

Rhymes for tidy

• friday
• untidy

Kids Definition

tidy

1 of 3 adjective

ti·​dy ˈtīd-ē 

tidier; tidiest

1

: well ordered and cared for

2

: large, substantial

a tidy price

tidy

2 of 3 verb

tidied; tidying

1

: to put in order

tidy up the room

2

: to make things tidy

tidy

3 of 3 noun

plural tidies

: a fancy covering used to protect the back, arms, or headrest of a chair or sofa from wear or soiling