untidy
gb/ʌntˈaɪdi/ us/ʌntˈaɪdi/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
not neat or well arranged
Not neat; not in order.
Usage pattern:
[place/thing] is untidy; an untidy [room/desk/bedroom]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use untidy when they mean dirty; something can be untidy but still clean.
Synonyms
messy (More general and very common.)
|
disordered (Slightly more formal; focuses on lack of order.)
|
cluttered (Emphasizes too many things in a space.)
Antonyms
tidy (Neat and in good order.)
|
neat (Clean-looking and carefully arranged.)
|
orderly (Arranged according to a clear system.)
Collocations
untidy room
|untidy desk
|untidy bedroom
|untidy kitchen
|untidy house
|untidy garden
|untidy pile
|untidy shelves
|untidy clothes
|untidy handwriting
Themes
daily_life
|home
|appearance
Examples
- Her desk was untidy, with papers stacked everywhere.
- I left the living room untidy because we had to rush out.
- The shop looked untidy, so we decided to go somewhere else.
Learner examples
- My room is untidy today.
- Please keep your desk untidy.
adjective
B1
property
2
not neat in personal appearance
Looking not neat, especially hair or clothes.
Usage pattern:
an untidy [appearance]; untidy [hair/clothes]
Common mistake:
Untidy describes neatness, not fashion; someone can be untidy even in expensive clothes.
Synonyms
scruffy (More informal; suggests a neglected look.)
|
unkempt (More formal; often used for hair.)
|
dishevelled (Emphasizes hair/clothes being in a mess, often after activity.)
Antonyms
well-groomed (Neat and carefully cared for.)
|
smart (Neat and presentable, often for work or events.)
|
neat (Simple opposite for appearance.)
Collocations
untidy hair
|untidy appearance
|untidy clothes
|untidy uniform
|untidy beard
|untidy collar
|untidy look
|untidy fringe
Themes
appearance
|people
Examples
- He turned up with untidy hair and a wrinkled shirt.
- She looked untidy after the long flight.
- The students must not have untidy uniforms at assembly.
Learner examples
- His hair is untidy.
- My clothes look untidy.
adjective
B2
property
3
disorganized or not well planned
Not organized or clear; not done in a neat way.
Usage pattern:
an untidy [process/argument/situation]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse untidy for ideas; for writing and plans, disorganized or unclear is often more natural.
Synonyms
disorganized (Most common for systems, plans, and work.)
|
chaotic (Stronger; suggests serious lack of control.)
|
haphazard (Emphasizes lack of planning or method.)
Antonyms
organized (Arranged and managed effectively.)
|
systematic (Done according to a clear method or system.)
|
coherent (Clear and logically connected (especially ideas or arguments).)
Collocations
untidy argument
|untidy process
|untidy solution
|untidy situation
|untidy paperwork
|untidy records
|untidy logic
|untidy management
|untidy history
|untidy ending
Themes
work
|communication
|thinking
Examples
- The report is interesting, but the structure is untidy.
- We need to tidy up our untidy filing system before the audit.
- The merger became an untidy process with lots of last-minute changes.
Learner examples
- The plan is untidy.
- His explanation was untidy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
untidy
IPA
GB/ʌntˈaɪdi/
US/ʌntˈaɪdi/
Syllables & stress
un - tidy (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tidy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: untidy
- Comparative: untidier
- Superlative: untidiest
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.