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
Tackle Laremy Tunsil, in whom Washington has invested so much, pulled left and cleaned out Nubin.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Medical staff repeatedly scrubbed and cleaned out her leg in an attempt to remove any dying tissue.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Mom and dad died recently, and Billy has cleaned out the flat; Skye just wants to see the old place one last time.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2025
But most plumbers recommend cleaning out the drain once a month to prevent the kind of nasty buildup that can get you into a hairy situation.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean out
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David Aldridge, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Medical staff repeatedly scrubbed and cleaned out her leg in an attempt to remove any dying tissue.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Mom and dad died recently, and Billy has cleaned out the flat; Skye just wants to see the old place one last time.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2025
But most plumbers recommend cleaning out the drain once a month to prevent the kind of nasty buildup that can get you into a hairy situation.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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