clean out

phrasal verb

cleaned out; cleaning out; cleans out
1
: to remove unwanted things from (a room, closet, etc.)
We spent the weekend cleaning out the garage.
2
informal : to steal or take everything from (someone or something)
The thieves broke in and cleaned out the store.
3
informal : to use up all or most of the money of (someone)
Buying the house really cleaned us out. Now we're broke.

Examples of clean out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Martin cleaned out gutters and shoveled snow by herself. Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024 However, this does usually result in a higher premium. Safety Precautions For Dryer Use There are more safety precautions to be done than cleaning out your lint trap. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024 Allow excess water to flow from your washing machine's hose and clean out any debris; remove extra lint from your dryer filter; deep-clean your refrigerator. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024 One of those jobs was cleaning out my gutters last night. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clean out 

Dictionary Entries Near clean out

Cite this Entry

“Clean out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean%20out. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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