Meaning & use
manicured
Last updated
“manicured” is a form of “manicure”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
having hands and nails that are carefully cleaned, shaped, and polished
Grammar: Used before a noun: manicured hands. Not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- manicured hands
- manicured nails
- well-manicured
She had beautifully manicured nails.
His hands were soft and manicured.
The actress showed off her perfectly manicured fingers.
adjectivebefore a noun
having an area of land that is very neat and well cared for
Grammar: Used before a noun: manicured lawn, manicured garden.
Patterns
- manicured lawn
- manicured garden
- manicured grounds
The house sits on a large manicured lawn.
They strolled through the manicured gardens of the palace.
The golf course is known for its manicured fairways.
Word forms
| base form | manicure |
|---|---|
| third person singular | manicures |
| past tense | manicured |
| past participle | manicured |
| -ing form | manicuring |
Common combinations
- well-manicured
- She has well-manicured hands.
- perfectly manicured
- The lawn was perfectly manicured.
- manicured nails
- He admired her manicured nails.
- manicured lawn
- The manicured lawn stretched to the river.
Synonyms and how they differ
- groomed
- Can describe neat appearance in general, but 'manicured' specifically refers to hands/nails or lawns.
- polished
- Often describes a surface that is shiny, while 'manicured' emphasizes neatness and care.
Opposites
Word family
- manicure noun
- A treatment for the hands and nails.
- manicurist noun
- A person who gives manicures.
Commonly confused: manicured or manicured?
manicured vs manicured
Not to be confused with 'manicure' as a verb, which means to care for hands/nails.
Practice
The garden was beautifully ___, with every bush perfectly trimmed.
Choose one answer.
'Manicured' is the adjective form needed here to describe the garden. 'Manicuring' is a verb form and would need a helping verb; 'manicure' and 'manicures' are verb or noun forms that do not fit the adjective position.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “manicured”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.