English Reference
Adverb

neatly

adv. manner
B1 Intermediate US /ˈnitɫi/ UK /nˈiːtli/ neat·ly

adv.in a way that is tidy and organized. You use this when someone does something carefully so it looks good or fits perfectly.

adv.in a tidy, organized, or efficient manner. Characterized by precision and order in arrangement or execution.


SIMPLE

She folded her clothes neatly and put them away.

CONTEXTUAL

The books were arranged neatly on the shelf by height and color.

COMPLEX

The architect's proposal neatly addresses the city's concerns regarding traffic flow while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the historic district.

Usage

Typically follows the verb or the direct object.

Pitfall
He neatly did his workHe did his work neatly

Adverbs of manner like 'neatly' usually follow the verb or the object rather than sitting between the subject and the verb.


From neat + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated