cleanup

1 of 3

noun

clean·​up ˈklēn-ˌəp 

1

: an act or instance of cleaning

The children helped with the cleanup.

2

: an exceptionally large profit

made a cleanup [=killing] when he sold his stocks

cleanup

2 of 3

adjective

: being in the fourth position in the batting order of a baseball team

a cleanup hitter

cleanup adverb

clean up

3 of 3

verb

cleaned up; cleaning up; cleans up

intransitive verb

1

: to make a spectacular profit in a business enterprise or a killing in speculation or gambling

2

: to become free of drug or alcohol addiction

I always cleaned up for tours. … By the end of the tour, I'm perfectly clean and should have stayed sober.

—Keith Richards

Examples of cleanup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The city commission recently discussed the construction of a new fire station, new roadway names, and heard an update on the cleanup of a former industrial waste landfill near Springfield. —Nicole Chavez, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024

Sierra Madre will bill the homeowner for the work done on the property including tree trimming and cleanup. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Tom, what's the role of these underwater divers at this point of cleanup efforts? —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Despite cleanup efforts, bacteria levels in the Seine can still rise above safe thresholds, especially after heavy rainfall. —John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024

Verb

How To Grow And Care For 'Knock Out' Roses Aftercare and Maintenance When you are finished pruning, clean up the area carefully. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2024

Swift cleaned up at Wednesday's VMAs, taking home the most statues with seven and breaking the record for most wins for any solo artist in history with 30. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see clean entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cleanup

noun

clean·​up

ˈklē-ˌnəp

: an act or instance of cleaning

helped with the cleanup after the meal