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
The collapsible trash cans are also great for camping or cleaning out your garage.
—
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Tasty Flavors still needs to obtain their licenses from the city, but the owners are ready to clean out the building and start moving in by the weekend of Oct 3-5.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025
But the local water management district wanted more and demanded that Koontz spend around $150,000 to clean out some district irrigation districts miles away from his property.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
Use a toothpick or metal pin to clean out any remaining deposits.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean out
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Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Tasty Flavors still needs to obtain their licenses from the city, but the owners are ready to clean out the building and start moving in by the weekend of Oct 3-5.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025
But the local water management district wanted more and demanded that Koontz spend around $150,000 to clean out some district irrigation districts miles away from his property.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
Use a toothpick or metal pin to clean out any remaining deposits.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 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 15 Oct. 2025.
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