spruce up
phrasal verb
Did you know?
titivate, spruce up, smarten up, or spiff up?
Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate.
Examples of spruce up in a Sentence
Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
With rare discounts on top brands like Martha Stewart, Hallmark, and Laura Ashley, these great quilts are all options to add to your radar if your goal is to stay warm and spruce up your space for winter.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
Captured by the legendary late bootlegger Mike Millard and well-known in the grey market, it’s been spruced up by Steven Wilson for inclusion on the set, marking its first-ever official release.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 12 Dec. 2025
Made of high-quality lightweight nylon, this tote is a casual yet durable choice that can spruce up any airport outfit or luggage lineup.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spruce up
Cite this Entry
“Spruce up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spruce%20up. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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