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
Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 14 June 2025
And adding a few extra touches like fountains or pergolas can easily spruce up a yard.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2025
This is an excellent time to invest, pitch a creative idea or spruce up your portfolio.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 June 2025
Here are a few ways to spruce up hot dogs for home(-viewed) games.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 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 18 Jun. 2025.
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