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 an email obtained by CBS News Baltimore, the city's Department of Public Works (DPW) told neighbors a crew was sent to clean out the lot on May 21 but couldn't finish the job. —Tara Lynch, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Was Rinna cleaning out her closet? —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

Once a home is cleaned out, the person with hoarding disorder should have regular check-ins with friends, family or case workers to keep the clutter from re-accumulating. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 28 May 2026

During that time, make a list of all the things that particular space needs, like cleaning out the closet, swapping out air filters, dusting fan blades, washing the walls, and cleaning the windows and under the rugs. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 May 2026

Rhymes for clean out

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