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
Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Trump campaign officials spent the following hours and days of the MSG rally doing cleanup and trying to distance their candidate from the controversy.
—Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024
Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Oct. 2024
The rule further gave public water suppliers and other institutions like the military until 2027 to determine the level of PFAS contamination in their systems and until 2029 to initiate cleanup operations.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Robyn is trying to clean up her act but can’t resist indulging Sharon’s long-repressed wild side.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleanup 
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Noun
Most of the cleanup of the layers and layers of mud and debris that has invaded countless homes has been done by residents and thousands of volunteers.
—Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Trump campaign officials spent the following hours and days of the MSG rally doing cleanup and trying to distance their candidate from the controversy.
—Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The event includes two cleanup opportunities: picking up trash on Piney Road or helping with trail clearing and maintenance related to damage from tornadoes that hit Benton County over Memorial Day weekend.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Oct. 2024
The rule further gave public water suppliers and other institutions like the military until 2027 to determine the level of PFAS contamination in their systems and until 2029 to initiate cleanup operations.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024
Verb
Both candidates criticized Watson’s leadership and said they were equipped to clean up the administration of the Maricopa County Regional School District.
—Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Robyn is trying to clean up her act but can’t resist indulging Sharon’s long-repressed wild side.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleanup
Articles Related to cleanup
Dictionary Entries Near cleanup
Cite this Entry
“Cleanup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanup. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
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