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

Even if someone were able to go in and forcibly clean out her apartment, it could just get hoarded again. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 7 Jan. 2026

If New Orleans wins, Tampa Bay is in the playoffs and the Panthers will meet Monday, clean out their lockers and go home for the winter, disappointed. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026

Occasionally, run an empty bleach cycle to clean out the washer’s interior and keep clothes smelling fresh. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026

The next task is cleaning out the pantry. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for clean out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout