Phrase guide

spruce up

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To dress or arrange smartly, elegantly, and neatly; to smarten.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Fresh paint and some new curtains would do a lot to spruce up this dark room.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He spruced up for the party

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spruce, slick up, smarten up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: groom, neaten

4

verb

Meaning 4

make neat, smart, or trim

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Spruce up your house for Spring
  • titivate the child

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spruce, titivate, tittivate, smarten up, slick up, spiff up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fancify, beautify, embellish, prettify

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: bichonner — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Hungarian: kicsípi magát — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: agghindare — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: agghindarsi — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: mettersi in ghingheri — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: abbellire — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: azzimare — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Italian: adornare — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Japanese: しゃれる (shareru) — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Korean: 멋부리다 (meotburida) — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Polish: stroić się — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Polish: wystrajać się — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Polish: wystroić się — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Russian: прихора́шиваться (prixorášivatʹsja) — to dress smartly, elegantly
  • Hungarian: kicsinosít — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Hungarian: feldob — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Hungarian: feldíszít — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Hungarian: kidíszít — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Hungarian: puccba vág — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Polish: ulepszać — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Polish: ulepszyć — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Polish: uatrakcyjniać — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance
  • Polish: uatrakcyjnić — to refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance