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
Michelle Lee, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Aston Villa In December, the club announced plans to spruce up the area outside Villa Park, creating a new fan zone dubbed The Warehouse that could be converted into a 3,500-seater multi-use venue throughout the year.
—Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Outside, Parker and Ha spruced up the facade with Cypress wood siding, upgraded the roof, and got rid of a second-floor deck that wasn’t original to the home, the newspaper noted.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2025
Haute Decor 24-Inch Faux Lavender Wreath Stalks of lavender, larkspur, cedar, eucalyptus, and lamb's ear are the focal points of this eye-catching wreath, which will spruce up any mantel, sideboard, or front door.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 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 8 Apr. 2025.
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