clean
Americanadjective
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cleaner,
comparative
-
cleanest
superlative
-
free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained.
She bathed and put on a clean dress.
- Synonyms:
- immaculate, neat
- Antonyms:
- dirty
-
free from foreign or extraneous matter.
They filled the new sandbox with clean sand.
-
free from pollution; unadulterated; pure.
clean air;
clean water.
-
habitually free of dirt.
Cats are considered clean animals.
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characterized by a fresh, wholesome quality.
the clean smell of pine.
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free from all writing or marking.
a clean sheet of paper.
-
having few or no corrections; easily readable.
The publisher demanded clean proofs from the printer.
- Synonyms:
- legible
-
free from roughness or irregularity.
He made a clean cut with a razor.
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not ornate; gracefully spare; forceful and simple; trim; streamlined.
a clean literary style;
the clean lines of a ship.
-
complete; unqualified.
She made a clean break from her old habits.
-
morally upright; honorable.
to lead a clean life.
-
showing good sportsmanship; fair.
a clean fighter.
-
inoffensive in language or content; without obscenity.
Is this a clean movie?
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(of a document, record, etc.) bearing no marks of discreditable or unlawful conduct; listing no offenses.
a clean driver's license.
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Informal.
-
innocent of any crime.
-
not having a criminal record.
-
carrying or containing no evidence of unlawful activity or intent, such as controlled substances, unlicensed weapons, or contraband.
The agents searched the car for drugs, but it was clean.
-
-
Informal. not using addictive drugs.
He’s been clean for three years now.
-
(of a nuclear weapon) producing little or no radioactive fallout.
-
not radioactive.
- Antonyms:
- radioactive
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(of a document or financial instrument) free from qualifications or restrictions.
a clean bill of lading.
-
free from defects or flaws.
a clean diamond.
- Synonyms:
- flawless, unblemished
-
free from encumbrances or obstructions.
-
(of food) free of synthetic additives, unfamiliar ingredients, excessive amounts of sugar, salt, fat, etc.; not overly processed or refined.
We sell only clean ice cream and confections in our cafe.
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neatly or evenly made or proportioned; shapely; trim.
a clean profile.
-
done without any difficulty or interference.
The bank robbers made a clean getaway.
-
dexterously performed; adroit.
a clean serve in tennis.
-
(of a jump over an obstacle) made without touching the obstacle.
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Slang. having no direct associations, business interests, etc., that could prejudice one's official acts or decisions.
The new governor is clean because he's sold his construction business and doesn't owe political favors to anyone.
-
Slang. without money or funds.
-
(of wine) having a taste that is unusually refreshing and smooth.
-
having no physical or moral blemish or carrying no taboo according to religious laws, especially dietary or ceremonial laws.
The horse was not a clean animal for the Israelites, and could not be eaten.
-
Nautical. (of an anchorage, harbor, etc.) free of obstructions or hazards (opposed to foul).
-
(of the legs of a horse) free from injury or blemish, as capped hocks, splints, or scars.
-
Foreign Exchange. (of currency floats) not influenced by exchange-rate manipulation (opposed to dirty).
adverb
-
in a way that is not dirty, messy, unwholesome, overly complicated, etc..
With practice I’ve learned to write clean and crisp, without flashy ornamentation.
After he got out of prison he decided to change his ways and live clean.
-
so as to be free of dirt or stains.
This shirt will never wash clean.
-
Informal. wholly; completely; quite.
The sharp carving knife sliced clean through the roast.
In a year, he had gone clean through his inheritance.
- Synonyms:
- thoroughly, entirely
verb (used with object)
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cleans,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cleaned,
past participle, past
-
cleaning
present participle
-
to make free of dirt, stains, mess, trash, etc..
Clean those dirty shoes.
I helped my dad clean the garage.
- Synonyms:
- wash, dust, mop, wipe, brush, sweep, scrub, scour, decontaminate, clear, purify, deterge, lave, rinse
- Antonyms:
- soil
-
to remove or consume the contents of; empty; clear.
She sat down to dinner ravenous and within five minutes had cleaned her plate.
-
to dry-clean.
-
to remove the inedible parts from (poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit, etc.).
He caught the trout, cleaned it, and grilled it—all in 20 minutes.
I’ll clean these strawberries and cut them up.
-
Metallurgy. to remove the seams from (a casting) by filing or grinding.
-
Philately. to intentionally delete the cancellation from (a postage or revenue stamp).
verb (used without object)
-
cleans,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cleaned,
past participle, past
-
cleaning
present participle
-
to perform or undergo a process of cleaning.
This kind of fabric cleans easily.
Detergents clean better than most soaps.
-
to get rid of dirt, soil, etc. (often followed byup ).
to spend the morning cleaning.
verb phrase
-
clean out
-
to empty in order to straighten or clean.
I cleaned out my desk drawers and threw away a lot of junk.
-
to use up; exhaust.
He had cleaned out his savings.
-
Informal. to drive out by force.
-
to empty or rid (a place) of occupants, contents, etc..
Eager customers cleaned out the store on the first day of the sale.
The thief cleaned out the safe.
-
Slang. to cause to lose all or almost all one's money or possessions.
Gambling eventually cleaned her out.
I got cleaned out last night at poker—the cards were marked.
-
-
clean up
-
to wash or tidy up.
They came in from the barn and cleaned up for dinner.
Clean up this mess in the hallway.
-
to be washed or tidied up so as to leave no dirt, stains, mess, etc..
This new jacket of mine cleans up really nicely.
The great thing about water-based paints is that they clean up so easily.
-
Informal. to become more stylishly or formally dressed when needed, as for a social outing or business engagement.
Wow, a suit and tie—you clean up pretty good!
-
to rid of undesirable persons or features.
They cleaned up the local bars.
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to put an end to; finish.
to clean up yesterday's chores.
-
Informal. to make a large profit.
They cleaned up in the stock market.
-
idioms
-
eat clean, to reduce one’s consumption of processed and refined foods in favor of whole foods.
Raising our children to eat clean has been easier than we expected.
-
clean up one's act. act.
-
clean full,
-
(of a sail or sails) filled with wind; rap full.
-
(of a sailing vessel) with all sails full of wind; rap full.
-
-
clean house, to wipe out corruption, inefficiency, etc., as in an organization.
It's time for the city government to clean house.
-
come clean, to tell the truth, especially to admit one's guilt.
When they offered him a plea bargain, he finally came clean.
adjective
-
without dirt or other impurities; unsoiled
-
without anything in it or on it
a clean page
-
recently washed; fresh
-
without extraneous or foreign materials
-
without defect, difficulties, or problems
a clean test flight
-
-
(of a nuclear weapon) producing little or no radioactive fallout or contamination
-
uncontaminated Compare dirty
-
-
(of a wound, etc) having no pus or other sign of infection
-
pure; morally sound
-
without objectionable language or obscenity
a clean joke
-
(of printer's proofs, etc) relatively free from errors; easily readable
clean copy
-
thorough or complete
a clean break
-
dexterous or adroit
a clean throw
-
sport played fairly and without fouls
-
simple in design
a ship's clean lines
-
aeronautics causing little turbulence; streamlined
-
(of an aircraft) having no projections, such as rockets, flaps, etc, into the airstream
-
honourable or respectable
-
habitually neat
-
(esp of a driving licence) showing or having no record of offences
-
slang
-
innocent; not guilty
-
not carrying illegal drugs, weapons, etc
-
-
nautical
-
having its bottom clean
-
having a satisfactory bill of health
-
-
Old Testament
-
(of persons) free from ceremonial defilement
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(of animals, birds, and fish) lawful to eat
-
-
New Testament morally and spiritually pure
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See sweep
verb
-
to make or become free of dirt, filth, etc
the stove cleans easily
-
(tr) to remove in making clean
to clean marks off the wall
-
(tr) to prepare (fish, poultry, etc) for cooking
to clean a chicken
adverb
-
in a clean way; cleanly
-
not_standard (intensifier)
clean forgotten
clean dead
-
cricket bowled by a ball that breaks the wicket without hitting the batsman or his bat
-
informal to make a revelation or confession
noun
Synonym Usage
Clean, clear, pure refer to freedom from soiling, flaw, stain, or mixture. Clean refers especially to freedom from soiling: a clean shirt. Clear refers particularly to freedom from flaw or blemish: a clear pane of glass. Pure refers especially to freedom from mixture or stain: a pure metal; not diluted but pure and full strength. Clean, cleanse refer to removing dirt or impurities. To clean is the general word with no implication of method or means: to clean windows, a kitchen, streets. Cleanse is especially used of thorough cleaning by chemical or other technical process; figuratively it applies to moral or spiritual purification: to cleanse parts of machinery; to cleanse one's soul of guilt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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cleannessnoun
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overcleannessnoun
-
precleanverb (used with object)
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recleanverb (used with object)
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cleanableadjective
-
half-cleanedadjective
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overcleanadjective
-
supercleanadjective
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uncleanedadjective
-
overcleanlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cleansimple
-
cleanssimple
-
have cleanedperfect
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has cleanedperfect
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am cleaningprogressive
-
are cleaningprogressive
-
is cleaningprogressive
-
have been cleaningperfect progressive
-
has been cleaningperfect progressive
Past
-
cleanedsimple
-
had cleanedperfect
-
was cleaningprogressive
-
were cleaningprogressive
-
had been cleaningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clean
First recorded before 900; Middle English clene, Old English clǣne “pure, clear,” cognate with Old High German kleini ( German klein “small”)
Explanation
The meaning of clean usually refers to removing something unwanted: you clean your hands by washing them, then you can clean some grapes. This word has many meanings related to being pure or empty. You clean a chicken by plucking its feathers, or get cleaned out when you lose all your money at poker. If a drug addict is clean, he's no longer using. You can clean someone’s clock, clean up your act, or clean out a safe and make a clean getaway. If the floor is clean enough to eat off, it's very clean. A clean life is morally pure.
Vocabulary lists containing clean
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Every Iowan deserves when they turn on the tap to ensure that their water is clean and not giving them cancer.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
“That means safe and accessible sidewalks, shaded waiting areas, reliable connections, adequate parking for residents and businesses, sufficient lighting, and clean and safe stations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
The scientists discovered that molecules deposited on their exceptionally clean crystal surface consistently reached the Fourier limit.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026
The deal marks Unilever’s latest effort to clean up its sprawling portfolio of businesses after agreeing earlier this year to merge its food segment with spice giant McCormick.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Then he just hauled off and jumped clean over the hole and looked at me from another angle.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
"I need to capitalise on those moments better. I'm ready to put on a cleaner performance."
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
For all of its capabilities, artificial intelligence has yet to save us from tidying up before the cleaner comes.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
With excess power on the civilian grid, power companies could retire their oldest units, allowing for an even cleaner grid at a reduced cost to customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
"Worsened fiscal positions delay the retirement or decarbonisation of coal plants, and there is less financial support for cleaner infrastructure such as solar and wind," she said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
But the vacuum cleaner did it faster and better, and soon Mrs. Jones was the envy of all the other housewives in town—so they bought vacuum cleaners, too.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
There's a strong argument that a sanctioning agreement is the cleanest way out of this.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
“Even when you have the cleanest case—the cleanest possible case where everyone agrees the bad thing happened—it takes years,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
"Hyperscalers had attracted much of that buying, while the supply chain remained one of the cleanest expressions of the belief that the AI capex machine would keep running at full throttle," he added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
The cleanest way to own the shortage is also the most direct way to own the licensing risk.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
When Mrs. Zuckerman got through and rubbed him dry, he was the cleanest, prettiest pig you ever saw.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
“It gives investors liquidity, terminates those preferred-share rights and cleans up obligations created when Shein raised money at much higher valuations.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
If the bank credibly cleans house, Treasury can reconsider the proposed measure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
So why are people so captivated by videos of hoarded homes, crime scene cleans and other extreme clear-outs?
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Bass has credited her Inside Safe program, which cleans encampments and moves people into motel rooms, for driving the recent decline in street sleeping.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
“Well, too bad. We already have a boy who cleans the pisspots.”
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
As I peeled the tape off my picture frames and glanced around the cleaned apartment, I wondered if I had been unnecessarily paranoid.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The bookish thriller "Verity" cleaned up in its North American box office debut this weekend while Tom Cruise flopped in "Digger" playing a rich old guy who thinks he can save the world.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
A spokesperson for the firm said trains and stations are cleaned "thoroughly" so passengers can "travel safely and with confidence".
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
An analog LP never cleaned out your bank account.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
No, they only cleaned it up so it will be easier for them to take it away.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
"I make decent money," she told AFP of her job cleaning a warehouse for a packaging and business supplies distributor.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
ABM, a major cleaning contractor, says its teams check for airsickness bags when they clean cabins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Some of the participants took pride in cleaning up after every night.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
New carpet, paint and deep cleaning cost money and time.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
And so I pass the day with Gloria, sweeping the floor and cleaning the house, washing the clothes, and feeding the chickens.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
