clean out
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
In 2003, my dad committed suicide after his own gambling addiction led him to clean out my grandparents’ bank accounts and lose over $50,000 of their money.
—
Justin Williams, New York Times, 20 May 2026
This is your time to inspect the overall functionality of your fridge and to prevent any problems from occurring by cleaning out the more technical parts that keep your fridge running.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
To help the process, clean out your dryer’s lint trap and add three dryer balls to the machine to fluff the towels, reducing drying time and static.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clean out
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Justin Williams, New York Times, 20 May 2026
This is your time to inspect the overall functionality of your fridge and to prevent any problems from occurring by cleaning out the more technical parts that keep your fridge running.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
To help the process, clean out your dryer’s lint trap and add three dryer balls to the machine to fluff the towels, reducing drying time and static.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
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 30 May. 2026.
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