clean out

phrasal verb

cleaned out; cleaning out; cleans out

: to remove unwanted things from (a room, closet, etc.)

We spent the weekend cleaning out the garage.

informal : to steal or take everything from (someone or something)

The thieves broke in and cleaned out the store.

informal : to use up all or most of the money of (someone)

Buying the house really cleaned us out. Now we're broke.

Examples of clean out 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.

One of those jobs was cleaning out my gutters last night. —

Wes Siler, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024 That’s why cleaning out a junk drawer can be such a challenge. —

Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024 Whether cleaning out cooking smells, the odor of smoke, or keeping the air clean and germ-free between guests, this air purifier ($70) will be a powerful asset thanks to 3-Stage 360 degree HEPA filtration. —

Aly Walansky, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Kid Cudi is cleaning out his closet and giving fans an opportunity to own rare items from his personal collection including sneakers and apparel. —

Riley Jones For Footwear News, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clean out