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
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
The ceramic nonstick coating makes for easy cleanup (especially paired with the GSI scraper below).
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 27 June 2025
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Another round of dangerous storms was forecast to roll through states across the Mississippi Valley on May 20, impacting regions deep in cleanup mode.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Janet McCabe, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
For startups shipping fast and often, this role helps avoid messy product interfaces that become expensive to clean up later.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanup
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Noun
This cat bed is available in three different sizes and has a machine-washable, removable cover for easy cleanup.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
The ceramic nonstick coating makes for easy cleanup (especially paired with the GSI scraper below).
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
Only if cleanup man Junior Caminero came to the plate would Espada reconsider.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Another round of dangerous storms was forecast to roll through states across the Mississippi Valley on May 20, impacting regions deep in cleanup mode.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Verb
Funds to clean up oil and petroleum spills would be cut by 24%.
—Janet McCabe, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
For startups shipping fast and often, this role helps avoid messy product interfaces that become expensive to clean up later.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 27 June 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 4 Jul. 2025.
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