neat

Examples

• All

• I think they've got a really neat look to them.

• "So maybe all kinds of neat things will happen this summer," she said.

  Fiction book (1999)

• That is super neat and then cool.

• Come on, I got something real neat to show you up in my bedroom.

  Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

• Yeah, I got myself a pretty neat travel kit.

  Civil War (2024)

• Let me get a beer and I'll show you a neat card game.

  Fiction book (1990)

• We're having a really neat open house today from four to whenever if you care to stop by.

  Fiction book (1993)

• I think it's really neat to know how stars and planets are formed.

  Academic text (2002)

• "No, I mean it," she said, "You have a neat imagination."

  Fiction book (2001)

• That was a really neat presentation that everyone enjoyed.

Synonyms

G

great

vsneat

∞ 1.0

Very good or excellent in quality

is similar but marked as informal and especially North American

C

cool

vsneat

• Informal

∞ 2.8

Acceptable and good enough for the situation

is stronger, giving clear impressed praise rather than mere acceptability

A

awesome

vsneat

∞ 2.1

Very impressive and causing a strong feeling of wonder

gives similar praise but is more moderate and casual in North American speech

N

not bad

vsneat

• Informal

938 3.0

Better than expected and quite good

is more direct and enthusiastic informal praise rather than modest approval

N

nice

vsneat

633 5.6

Being made carefully with skill to show small details

focuses instead on general informal praise of quality or impressiveness

S

swell

vsneat

• Archaic

98 7.3

Very good and enjoyable

matches that positive sense but is tied to North American informal usage

G

groovy

vsneat

• Archaic

59 8.8

Very stylish and liked by many people

is similar in praise but focuses on general informal North American approval

D

dandy

vsneat

• Archaic

48 6.7

Very good and impressive

is the informal North American variant with similar complimentary force

N

nifty

vsneat

• Informal

40 6.0

Being clever and useful, often small and attractive

shares approval but is specifically North American informal and broader in use

P

peachy

vsneat

• Informal

29 6.9

Very good and pleasant, with no problems

is the informal North American expression with the same strong praise

S

smashing

vsneat

• Archaic

29 7.6

Very good, enjoyable, and attractive in a lively way

shares high praise but is specifically informal North American in tone

B

bully

vsneat

• Archaic

18 9.9

Very good or excellent in old, joking speech

is the modern North American informal way to express current strong approval

B

bang-up

vsneat

• Informal

16 7.8

Very good and of high quality

says the same but emphasizes informal North American praise rather than rank

H

hunky-dory

vsneat

• Informal

13 7.9

In a good state without any problems

is more positive and expresses clear impressed approval rather than mere okayness

K

keen

vsneat

• UK

12 6.9

Very good and impressive

is the North American informal form with identical positive force

C

cracking

vsneat

• UK

4 8.4

Very good and enjoyable

carries the same excellence but is North American informal rather than British

C

corking

vsneat

• Archaic

1 8.6

Very good and enjoyable

conveys similar high praise but is North American informal instead

S

slap-up

vsneat

• UK

1 8.9

Very good and large, often used for a meal or party

expresses the same excellence but is North American informal in register

Antonyms

B

bad

∞ 1.0

Not good in quality or below the usual standard

P

poor

555 1.0

Not good enough in quality or amount

Compounds

N

neat-freak

• Informal

7 7.9

A person who likes to keep things very clean and tidy

N

neat and tidy

6 1.4

Clean and well organized with no mess

W

whiskey neat

• US

2 5.6

A glass of whiskey served without ice or mixer at room temperature

How Good

fantastic

891 1.9

excellent

∞ 1.0

neat

• Informal

218 7.0

good

∞ 1.0

all right

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology