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
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Last month, Los Angeles city officials declared these properties a public nuisance because of their failure to take action to clean up debris.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 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
The July 5 re-opening arrived after a major push to clean up the once-polluted river ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where events like men's and women’s triathlon were set to take place.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Last month, Los Angeles city officials declared these properties a public nuisance because of their failure to take action to clean up debris.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 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 18 Jul. 2025.
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