Adjective He keeps his apartment neat and clean. The store is always busy but they manage to keep the shelves stocked and neat. a nice neat pile of magazines Fold the paper to make a neat edge. a neat man who always wore a suit He's got a neat way of memorizing information. There is, unfortunately, no neat solution to the problem. She's a neat person who has traveled a lot. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Fabric storage bins help keep an open closet neat, organized, and presentable. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 This is neat: per SI.com, James Franklin coached Donald Driver in 2005 with the Green Bay Packers ... and will now coach his son. Charles Curtis, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2022 Keep tools and accessories neat and within easy reach. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2022 Its five pieces keep pens, pencils, and paperwork from invading your space and contribute to an overall neat and tidy appearance in your room. Melissa Epifano, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 The piece is a powerful indictment of neat and tidy histories, told by its victors. Murray Whyte, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Residents will need to pay rent and keep the properties neat. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Works well as a lawn substitute; mow once after blooming to keep neat. Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 Longoria also looked stunning in a ponytail—this time neat and low—and white sequined floor-length gown by Australian fashion designer Toni Matičevski at the Global Gift Gala in Marbella. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2022
Adverb
Al on the microphone is a quality Scotch, poured neat. Jason Gay, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Late last year Toyota announced ambitious electrification plans for its lineup and showed off a cornucopia of neat-looking concept cars, from a low-slung Lexus supercar to a butch Toyota Tacoma–like pickup truck and an angular Toyota sports car. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 14 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Adverb
Middle French net, from Latin nitidus bright, neat, from nitēre to shine; probably akin to Middle Irish níam luster
Noun
Middle English neet, from Old English nēat; akin to Old High German nōz head of cattle, Old English nēotan to make use of, Lithuanian nauda use