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
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 10 July 2025
People can also go to the center to get connected with cleanup help and case management.
—Robbie Farias, Austin American Statesman, 10 July 2025
Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 10 Apr. 2025
Only if cleanup man Junior Caminero came to the plate would Espada reconsider.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 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
Construction crews worked from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a tight cleanup window, before guests arrived at 6 p.m. for regular service.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 10 July 2025
People can also go to the center to get connected with cleanup help and case management.
—Robbie Farias, Austin American Statesman, 10 July 2025
Adjective
The county also can ask the state for help with cleanup efforts.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 10 Apr. 2025
Only if cleanup man Junior Caminero came to the plate would Espada reconsider.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 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 14 Jul. 2025.
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