tidy

tidy — adjective

1. with all items placed in their proper position and nothing left out of place; al

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

with all items placed in their proper position and nothing left out of place; also describes a person who prefers their surroundings to be well ordered

Example

Niran's desk was neat and tidy with every book standing on its shelf.

collocation: neat and tidy

Jiwoo always keeps her desk tidy before leaving the office each evening.

Common collocations
  • tidy room
  • tidy desk
  • tidy kitchen
  • tidy handwriting
  • tidy appearance
  • tidy person
  • neat and tidy
  • clean and tidy
Synonyms
  • neat

    very similar, slightly more common in American English for describing a person's appearance or habits

  • orderly

    suggests systematic arrangement according to rules or logic; more formal

  • organised

    emphasises planning and structure rather than just appearance; also used for schedules and events

  • well-kept

    describes a place that is carefully maintained over time

Antonyms
  • messy

    the most common opposite; describes a space with things out of place

  • untidy

    direct opposite; shares the same root

  • chaotic

    stronger; suggests complete disorder and confusion

Usage Note

Can describe both a physical space ('a tidy kitchen') and a person's nature ('a tidy person'). Frequently paired with 'neat' and 'clean' as fixed expressions.

Common Mistakes

She made her room tidy and organised it tidily.
She made her room tidy and well organised.
Avoid stacking multiple forms of the same word ('tidy' as adjective, 'tidily' as adverb) in one sentence.

2. used to describe a sum of money that is surprisingly or impressively big

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a sum of money that is surprisingly or impressively big

Example

Selling the old apartment earned the Chen family a tidy profit.

collocation: tidy profit

Christopher was surprised by the tidy sum his aunt left in her will.

collocation: tidy sum

Common collocations
  • tidy sum
  • tidy profit
  • tidy amount
  • tidy income
  • tidy fortune
Synonyms
  • substantial

    more formal; can be used in business and legal contexts

  • considerable

    suggests the amount is noteworthy in size; neutral register

  • sizeable

    similar meaning but slightly less formal

Antonyms
  • modest

    describes a small or moderate amount, opposite of surprisingly large

Usage Note

Almost always appears with nouns related to money: 'sum', 'profit', 'amount', 'income', 'fortune'. Not used with general nouns like 'house' or 'car'.

Common Mistakes

He earned a tidy money from selling his car.
He earned a tidy sum of money from selling his car.
'tidy' in this sense modifies 'sum', 'profit', or 'amount', never 'money' directly.

tidy — noun

tidy — verb

Word family

  • tidiness
    nounB1
  • tidily
    adverbB1
  • untidy
    adjectiveA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Tidy, neat, orderly, and organised all describe a state of being well arranged and free from mess, but they differ in emphasis and usage. Tidy is the most general and conversational word in British English, used for both spaces and personal habits ('a tidy desk,' 'a tidy person'). Neat is common in both American and British English and adds the idea of precision and careful arrangement ('neat handwriting,' 'neat rows'). Orderly suggests a systematic arrangement that follows rules or logic ('an orderly filing system'), making it more formal. Organised focuses on planning and structure rather than just visual appearance ('an organised schedule'), so it applies more broadly to events and thoughts. In everyday use, tidy and neat are largely interchangeable for physical spaces, but tidy is the stronger default in British English. For example: 'Her desk was tidy and well organised — every drawer had neat rows of folders in an orderly system.'

neat ↗orderly ↗organised ↗tidy ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in good order
  • in apple-pie order

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Tidy comes from the Old English word 'tid' meaning 'time' or 'season'. By the 1200s, 'tidy' meant 'timely' or 'appropriate' — something that happened at the right time was considered proper and good. This sense of 'proper' gradually shifted to describe physical neatness, and by the 1700s the modern meaning of 'well ordered and clean' was established. The verb form ('to tidy') appeared in the 1800s, and the noun meaning 'a small storage container' arose in British English in the 1900s.