# tidy

/ˈtaɪdi/ (US) · /tˈaɪdi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tidy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. neat and organized

adjective · CEFR A2

having everything in the right place and looking neat.

For teachers: arranged in a neat, orderly, and systematic manner.

- She likes to keep her desk tidy so she can find her pens easily.
- The inspector noted that the laboratory was exceptionally tidy, with every chemical reagent correctly labelled and stored in its designated cabinet.

### 2. a large amount

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to describe a large or impressive amount of money.

For teachers: denoting a considerable or substantial amount, typically in the context of financial sums.

- He sold his old car for a tidy profit last week.
- After years of careful investment, she managed to accumulate a tidy sum that allowed her to retire several years earlier than planned.

### 3. to clean up

verb · CEFR A2

to make a place neat by putting things where they belong.

For teachers: to bring order to a space by arranging objects neatly; often used with the particle 'up'.

- I need to tidy my room before my friends arrive for the party.
- The staff worked quickly to tidy the conference hall between the morning keynote and the afternoon breakout sessions.

Usage: Often functions as a phrasal verb: 'tidy up'.

### 4. an organizer

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a small container used to keep things like pens or tools organized.

For teachers: a receptacle or device designed to hold small items in an orderly fashion.

- I bought a desk tidy to keep all my paperclips and staples in one place.
- The workshop was equipped with various wall-mounted tidies, ensuring that specialized drill bits were always within the mechanic's reach.

### 5. great or fine

interjection · CEFR C1 · Dialect · British English · Informal

a way to say 'great' or 'good' in some parts of the UK.

For teachers: an exclamation of approval, agreement, or satisfaction.

- "I'll meet you at six then." "Tidy, see you then."
- Upon hearing that the local team had finally won the championship, he simply nodded and remarked, "Tidy."

## Examples

- Please keep your bedroom tidy.
- She spent the entire Saturday morning making sure the kitchen was tidy before her guests arrived.
- A tidy workspace is often considered essential for maintaining focus, as physical clutter can frequently lead to mental distraction during complex tasks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.