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 WebThao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Simply snap on the leakproof lids for storage or throw the containers directly in the dishwasher for hassle-free cleanup with minimal dishes.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024
The owner of the house has hired a debris cleanup contractor, while Seashore employees plan on assisting with cleanup efforts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
The trail links Rocky Flats with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, land outside of downtown Denver that also was cleaned up after contamination from the manufacture of chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas, for World War II.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleanup 
Noun
The state also has filed a separate claim against the Dali's owner and operator for the cost of the bridge, the cleanup and environmental claims, among other costs.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Simply snap on the leakproof lids for storage or throw the containers directly in the dishwasher for hassle-free cleanup with minimal dishes.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The less traffic on the streets, the more efficiently cleanup work can take place.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024
The owner of the house has hired a debris cleanup contractor, while Seashore employees plan on assisting with cleanup efforts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
Verb
Get The Recipe 49 of 60 Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables With Rice
Ready in 25 minutes
Sheet pan recipes are miracle workers for getting dinner on the table quickly and reducing the after-meal clean up.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
The trail links Rocky Flats with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, land outside of downtown Denver that also was cleaned up after contamination from the manufacture of chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas, for World War II.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleanup
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cleanup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cleanup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanup. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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