WordGarden.ioneat
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈiːt/
US
- /ˈnit/
Meanings
Adjective
clean, tidy, and well ordered in appearance
pleasingly simple, precise, or skillfully done
good, interesting, or pleasantly impressive
More meaningsFewer meanings
served as an alcoholic drink without ice, water, or mixer
Beyond the definition
"Neat" is often used for something clean, tidy, and in good order, like a neat room or neat handwriting. It can also describe something clever or well done, such as a neat trick or a neat solution to a problem. In another common use, a drink served neat is served plain, with no ice, water, or mixer. The word often gives a feeling of order, care, or simple skill.
The word "neat" covers several related ideas. Most often, it describes something tidy, orderly, and carefully arranged. A neat desk, a neat garden, or a neat appearance all suggest that things are in place and look clean and controlled. It can also describe writing, work, or movement that looks careful and exact, as in neat handwriting or a neat piece of work.
"Neat" is also often used for something clever, simple, or pleasing in the way it is done. A neat trick, a neat idea, or a neat solution is not just successful; it feels smart and nicely handled. In this sense, the word often carries a warm, approving tone.
There is also a common meaning used for drinks. If someone orders whiskey neat, they want it served plain, with no ice, no water, and no mixer. In that use, the word means the drink is served by itself, just as it is.
So the word can point to order, careful work, cleverness, or plain serving, depending on the situation. The different meanings are connected by the same general feeling: something clean, controlled, or nicely done.
Examples
- 1
Shared space
Please keep your desk neat while you're sharing the room.
- 2
Handwriting
She wrote the address in neat handwriting.
- 3
Household order
The towels were folded into a neat pile on the shelf.
- 4
Concise summary
He gave a neat summary of the problem in two minutes.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Clever solution
That’s a neat way to fix the error without rewriting everything.
- Patterna neat way to do X
a clever, simple way to do it
- 6
Informal reaction
“Oh, neat — I didn’t know this app could do that.”
- Usageneat
nice, interesting, or impressive in informal speech
- 7
Drink order
He ordered his whiskey neat.
- Phrasedrink alcohol neat
drink it without ice, water, or anything mixed in
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- immaculate
- well-kept
- shipshape
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- neat and tidy
- neat appearance
- neat handwriting
- keep something neat
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- neatadjective
Forms
- neatercomparativeadjective
- neatestsuperlativeadjective