cleanup

1 of 3

noun

clean·​up ˈklēn-ˌəp 

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

cleanup

2 of 3

adjective

: being in the fourth position in the batting order of a baseball team

a cleanup hitter

cleanup adverb

clean up

3 of 3

verb

cleaned up; cleaning up; cleans up

intransitive verb

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

Examples of cleanup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Then, when the mixture is all applied, toss the bag, and your cleanup is nearly done. Learn how to make homemade shake and bake chicken. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2025

Like thousands of others whose homes were destroyed in the Los Angeles fires, the sisters face myriad challenges rebuilding, including cleanup delays and rising construction costs. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Officials continue encouraging neighborhood coordination for cleanup efforts, though tensions between speed and safety protocols are likely to persist throughout the recovery process. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Maryland State Police said Tuesday morning that motorists could expect extended delays on northbound I-270, as three lanes were closed near Montrose Road amid cleanup efforts. —Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025

Verb

In a webinar held by the L.A. Department of Public Health, officials said providers should be able to do the clean up themselves without professional help. —Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025

And are there any substances that already exist in nature and can clean up algal blooms without harming the environment? —Diana Kruzman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see clean entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cleanup

noun

clean·​up

ˈklē-ˌnəp

: an act or instance of cleaning

helped with the cleanup after the meal