clean out
phrasal verb
cleaned out; cleaning out; cleans out
1
: to remove unwanted things from (a room, closet, etc.)
We spent the weekend cleaning out the garage.
2
informal
: to steal or take everything from (someone or something)
The thieves broke in and cleaned out the store.
3
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
The chickens will have to be removed and individually treated with dusting powder and the coop will have to be cleaned out and fumigated.
—
Sal Gilbertie, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The trio cleans out the safe and leaves the store in Owings Mills, Maryland, with a grand total of $48,767 worth of Apple and Samsung Galaxy devices— 76 in total, according to federal court filings.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
What happens when Vogue picks up the phone and asks its friends—designers, models, and people with seriously good taste—to clean out their closets?
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Soon, the accounts are cleaned out and the acquaintance has disappeared.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean out
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.
Sal Gilbertie, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The trio cleans out the safe and leaves the store in Owings Mills, Maryland, with a grand total of $48,767 worth of Apple and Samsung Galaxy devices— 76 in total, according to federal court filings.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
What happens when Vogue picks up the phone and asks its friends—designers, models, and people with seriously good taste—to clean out their closets?
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Soon, the accounts are cleaned out and the acquaintance has disappeared.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean out
Cite this Entry
“Clean out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean%20out. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share