1
: an act or instance of cleaning
The children helped with the cleanup.
2
: an exceptionally large profit
made a cleanup [=killing] when he sold his stocks
: being in the fourth position in the batting order of a baseball team
a cleanup hitter
cleanup
adverb
cleaned up; cleaning up; cleans up
1
: to make a spectacular profit in a business enterprise or a killing in speculation or gambling
2
: to become free of drug or alcohol addiction
I always cleaned up for tours. … By the end of the tour, I'm perfectly clean and should have stayed sober.—
Keith Richards
Keith RichardsExamples of cleanup in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: https://dcgary.org/2025-day-service.
Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N Grand Blvd — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
The first responders will stay as long as duty demands—the Eaton Fire remains roughly 90% contained, though cleanup efforts will likely continue well past the last lick of flame.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2025
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The recipient of a Grammy and six Academy of Country Music Awards — who is expected to clean up at next month’s ACM Awards ceremony — Wilson made her TV acting debut on Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount sensation Yellowstone.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanup
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Noun
Those with questions about the overflow and cleanup efforts can reach the Bureau of Utilities at 410-313-4900.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025
There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: https://dcgary.org/2025-day-service.
Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N Grand Blvd — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Adjective
Communities statewide have had issues with coal ash, including the Town of Pines, which has fought for cleanup measures from NIPSCO for more than 20 years.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
The first responders will stay as long as duty demands—the Eaton Fire remains roughly 90% contained, though cleanup efforts will likely continue well past the last lick of flame.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Google’s mission to clean up Play Store has gone further than expected.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The recipient of a Grammy and six Academy of Country Music Awards — who is expected to clean up at next month’s ACM Awards ceremony — Wilson made her TV acting debut on Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount sensation Yellowstone.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanup
Cite this Entry
“Cleanup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanup. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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