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
: being in the fourth position in the batting order of a baseball team
a cleanup hitter
cleanup
adverb
cleaned up; cleaning up; cleans up
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
Keith RichardsExamples of cleanup in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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
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
Articles Related to cleanup
Cite this Entry
“Cleanup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanup. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share