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
Deborah Barfield Berry, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
With their soft patent leather padding and slim cushioned soles, these slides are perfect for everyday wear to spruce up your outfits.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
To spruce up what originally passed for a fireplace, Toly found a mantelpiece covered with peeling wallpaper at her store.
—Michael Mundy, Curbed, 25 Mar. 2025
For those looking to spruce up their closets for themselves and the whole family, there's a wide range of on-trend apparel — think dresses, shirts, skirts, shorts and jewelry — for women, kids and babies (the clothing also comes in inclusive sizing and adaptive styles).
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 2 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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