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to prettify

to prettify

1 5.0
Make something look more attractive, often only on the surface
  • verb
  • /ˈprɛtiˌfaɪ/
translation icon : embellecer
  • She decided to prettify her living room with new curtains and colorful cushions.

Examples

  • If you want to give your iPad mini a personal touch, you can head to Settings and pick either a stock wallpaper or an image from your Gallery to prettify your home screen and your lock screen.

    Blog text (13)
  • After that... you must take off those slummocky clothes... and prettify yourself.

  • Well, a lot of people say it's about making things look pretty, which it is.

  • Now, go get yourself all prettified.

  • I want things to look prettified.

  • To prepare for the party, he took some time to prettify the garden with flowers and decorations.

  • The artist worked to prettify the plain walls by adding vibrant murals and artwork.

Synonyms

to enhance
vsto prettify
424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

is often more decorative and superficial rather than broad quality improvement
to decorate
vsto prettify
226 1.9

To make something look nicer by adding paint, ornaments, or other items

is often more superficial and ornamental rather than changing substance
to dress something up
vsto prettify
56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

is used generally to improve appearance not only for special occasions
to spruce
vsto prettify
  • Informal
26 4.1

To make a place or person look neat and smart

is usually about appearance only, often using decorative touches
to accessorize
vsto prettify
  • US
16 3.8

To add small items like jewelry or scarves to clothes to make them look nicer

is broader and more about overall appearance than adding accessories
to spruce up
vsto prettify
  • Informal
13 3.8

To make yourself or a place look cleaner and nicer

is often more decorative and superficial rather than simple neatness
to glamorize
vsto prettify
  • US
12 5.8

To make someone or something look more attractive and exciting than they really are

is more about superficial decoration rather than creating exaggerated appeal
to embellish
vsto prettify
10 6.3

To make something more beautiful by adding decorative details

is usually decorative and surface focused rather than deep alteration
to beautify
vsto prettify
9 3.2

To make a place or person more attractive by adding decorations like paint

is often more superficial and decorative rather than deep improvement
to gussy
vsto prettify
  • Informal
8 8.7

Make something or someone look fancier by adding decorations

is more generally about making attractive, not only adding ornaments
to touch up
vsto prettify
8 3.8

Make small changes to something to improve how it looks

is usually more decorative and surface focused than minor fixes
to retouch
vsto prettify
8 4.2

To make small changes to the look of hair or a photo

is often more about decoration than technical or precise edits
to romanticize
vsto prettify
5 6.9

Give something a soft, attractive look by changing its style or design

is more general prettiness rather than adding romantic sentiment or style
to freshen up
vsto prettify
  • Informal
4 3.0

Make a room look cleaner and nicer with small changes

is often more about superficial prettiness than minor renovation
to ornament
vsto prettify
4 3.7

To add decorations to something to make it look nicer

is mainly about surface decoration rather than altering core features
to spiff
vsto prettify
  • Informal
3 8.0

To make something look neater and more attractive with small changes

is often more decorative and surface aimed rather than small tidy fixes
to smarten
vsto prettify
3 3.9

To make someone or something look neater and more attractive

is more about surface prettiness rather than practical improvement
to pretty
vsto prettify
  • Informal
1 5.7

Make something look nicer by adding decorations

is more likely to be superficial decoration rather than real change
to spiff up
vsto prettify
  • Informal
1 7.2

Make a person or place look neater and nicer by cleaning and adding small things

is usually more decorative and superficial rather than functional tidying
to paint up
vsto prettify
1 2.5

Put paint on something to make it look better

is more generally decorative and not limited to painting methods
to buff up
vsto prettify
  • Informal
1 5.8

To make something better in how it works or how it looks

is usually more about surface prettiness rather than real quality increase
to glamourize
vsto prettify
  • UK
1 6.3

Make something seem more attractive than it really is

is often simpler decoration rather than creating an illusion of glamour
to fancify
vsto prettify
  • Informal
7.7

Make something look more attractive by adding decorations

is less showy and more simply decorative or superficial
to fancy up
vsto prettify
  • Informal
6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is often simpler decoration rather than intentional style elevation
to tittivate
vsto prettify
9.9

To make something or yourself look neat and attractive

is often simpler decorating rather than careful detailed grooming
to aestheticize
vsto prettify
7.5

To make something look more beautiful or artistic

is more about simple surface prettiness rather than artistic style changes

Antonyms

8.5

Make something look bad and spoil its appearance

How Attractive

to transform
523 3.4
to beautify
9 3.2
to prettify
1 5.0
to spruce up
  • Informal
13 3.8
to touch up
8 3.8

Surface Forms

prettify infinitive
prettified past
prettified past participle
prettifying present participle
prettifies third person singular

Morphology

prettify = pretty (transparent) = pretty + ify

Standard verb formation: '-ify' added to 'pretty' yields 'make pretty', matching the sense 'make more attractive'.

Etymology

Prettify comes from the everyday word pretty plus the suffix -fy which means 'make', just like beautify; so to prettify something is to 'make it pretty', often only on the surface.