cleanup

1 of 3

noun

clean·​up ˈklēn-ˌəp How to pronounce cleanup (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In 2003, after numerous studies and debates, the base finally closed and cleanup commenced to eliminate any remaining environmental contamination. Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025 Here's Kenan Thompson's recipe for carefree hosting (hint: cleanup comes last). Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Keep people with heart or lung diseases, older adults, pregnant women, children and pets away from cleanup activities. Colleen E. Reid, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025 In the immediate aftermath, Joe returned to Ground Zero to assist with cleanup efforts. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Toxic Avenger is cleaning up in first look at new version of cult classic Taylour Paige (Zola, IT: Welcome to Derry) plays JJ Doherty, who's part investigative journalist, part vigilante detective working to take down the Garbingers' company. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025 Predicting extreme weather events, preventing catastrophic losses of life and property, and better understanding the climate trends that pose such a danger to humanity are a whole lot cheaper than cleaning up the mess—and tending to the dead—after a disaster strikes. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cleanup

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleanup was in 1872

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cleanup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanup. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

cleanup

noun
clean·​up
ˈklē-ˌnəp
: an act or instance of cleaning
helped with the cleanup after the meal

More from Merriam-Webster on cleanup

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