# tidying

/ˈtaɪdiɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈaɪdiɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tidying
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

the act of putting things in their correct places and making a room look neat. You do this when you want to clear away mess.

For teachers: the process of arranging items in an orderly fashion or clearing away clutter. Functions as a gerund noun describing the activity itself.

## Examples

- The house needs a good tidying before the guests arrive.
- After the children finished playing with their blocks, the afternoon tidying took much longer than expected.
- While some find the repetitive nature of daily tidying to be a chore, others view it as a meditative practice that helps clear the mind.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a gerund to describe the activity; frequently follows verbs like 'need' or 'do'.

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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.