Neaten

Neaten is a transitive verb meaning to make something neat, tidy, or orderly, typically by cleaning, sorting, or arranging. It can apply to physical spaces, objects, documents, or even schedules and presentations. The term is used when someone improves the appearance or organization of something, for example: "He neatened the desk before the meeting" or "She neatened up the files."

Etymology and scope: Neaten derives from the adjective neat, with the suffix -en to form a verb meaning to cause to become neat. It appears in English in earlier periods and remains in use, though it is more common in formal, instructional, or descriptive writing than in everyday conversation.

Usage notes: In contemporary speech, neaten is relatively formal or archaic; speakers often prefer neaten up, tidy up, or clean up. The present participle is neatening; the past tense and past participle are neatened; the third-person singular present is neatens. It is commonly used in guidelines, manuals, and contexts where a precise action of improving order is described.

See also: tidy, organize, clean up, spruce up.