tidy

1 of 3

adjective

ti·​dy ˈtī-dē How to pronounce tidy (audio)
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 adverb
tidiness 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Other must-shop Black Friday sales to keep your home clean and tidy include this Dyson stick vacuum and this Shark steam mop. Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024 But Stewart’s words, whether spoken directly to the camera or read from private letters, tell a story that diverges from tidy fantasies. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2024
Verb
So, before turning on the webcam, iron your outfit, tidy up the background, and prepare your posture. Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024 If your liquid detergent does expire, use it for one of its many uses outside of keeping clothing clean, like mopping floors and tidying toys. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
This episode tidies up a lot of the season’s conflicts, healing multiple complex relationships: Sean and his dad, Gaby and her sister, Alice and her guy-who-killed-my-mom. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Often called the Chelsea Chop, this trim tidies up plants and encourages a second flush of blooms. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tidy 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tidy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near tidy

Cite this Entry

“Tidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tidy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tidy

1 of 3 adjective
ti·​dy ˈtīd-ē How to pronounce tidy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tidy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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