neaten

/'ni:tn/

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Word: Neaten

Part of Speech: Verb

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You can use "neaten" when you want to talk about organizing a messy room, desk, or space. You can also use it when referring to grooming yourself, like fixing your hair or clothes.

• Example Sentence: "Please neaten your room before the guests arrive."

Advanced Usage:

• You can use "neaten" in different tenses. For example:
  • Present: "I neaten my desk every evening."
  • Past: "She neatened her hair before the interview."
  • Future: "They will neaten the classroom after the lesson."

Word Variants:

• Neat (adjective): Clean, tidy, and well-organized.
  • Example: "Her handwriting is very neat."
• Neatly (adverb): In a tidy manner.
  • Example: "He arranged the books neatly on the shelf."
• Neatness (noun): The quality of being clean and tidy.
  • Example: "The neatness of the room impressed the visitors."

Different Meaning:

In a different context, "neaten" can also refer to making something more precise or orderly in terms of appearance or presentation, such as a report or a piece of artwork.

Synonyms:

• Tidy
• Organize
• Arrange
• Clean up
• Straighten

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There aren't many common idioms that use "neaten," but you might hear the phrase "neaten up," which is a phrasal verb that means to tidy or organize.

Academic

Verb

1. care for one's external appearance
   • He is always well-groomed
2. put (things or places) in order
   • Tidy up your room!

Synonyms

• groom
• tidy
• tidy up
• clean up
• straighten
• straighten out
• square away