Beautify

Beautify is a verb meaning to make something more beautiful or aesthetically pleasing. It can refer to acts or processes that increase attractiveness, harmony, or appeal in objects, environments, or representations. Etymologically, it is formed from the noun beauty with the suffix -ify, meaning to cause to become or to make.

In common usage, beautifying can involve physical changes (such as landscaping a garden, repainting a room, or applying makeup) or design choices that improve appearance without altering function. It is widely applied across fields such as art, architecture, interior and landscape design, photography, fashion, and cosmetics. Common synonyms include embellish, adorn, or enhance.

Computing and digital media also use the term. In programming and web design, a beautifier or pretty-printer reformats source code, HTML, JSON, or XML to use consistent indentation, spacing, and line breaks to improve readability. In image or video editing, tools described as "beautify" may apply adjustments intended to enhance appearance, such as color correction or smoothing.

The concept also intersects with cultural and philosophical discussions of aesthetics. Beautification raises questions about taste, standards of beauty, and the social and historical contexts that shape what is considered attractive or desirable. While often framed positively, critiques may address how beauty norms influence identity, representation, and consumer culture.