clean up
Britishverb
-
to rid (something) of dirt, filth, or other impurities
-
to make (someone or something) orderly or presentable
-
(tr) to rid (a place) of undesirable people or conditions
the campaign against vice had cleaned up the city
-
informal (intr) to make a great profit
noun
-
-
the process of cleaning up or eliminating something
-
( as modifier )
a cleanup campaign
-
-
informal a great profit
-
Also, clean out . Make clean or orderly, as in She cleaned up the cellar after the flood , or Dad said he cleaned out the garage . [First half of 1800s]
-
Also, wash up . Wash or tidy oneself, as in Do I have time to clean up before dinner?
-
Settle or dispose of, as in He cleaned up all the bills that had arrived during his vacation .
-
Bring to a certain standard of order or morality, as in This script won't do; we'll have to clean up the language . Applied to personal behavior, it also is put as clean up one's act , as in He'll have to clean up his act and obey the rules . [c. 1900]
-
Succeed, especially financially, as in We had fantastic luck at the races and really cleaned up . [ Slang ; first half of 1800s]
-
Also, clean up on . Defeat or vanquish, kill, as in We're cleaning up all the other teams , or With enough ammunition we could clean up on this pocket of snipers . [ Slang ; mid-1800s]
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.
Placing food waste in sealed containers inside the building before removal, for instance, would significantly extend the time necessary to clean up the entire site, the company argued.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
For every riot, there are volunteers who'll come out the next day to clean up the mess.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
A four-year-long investigation by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission — a panel of international experts and prominent figures — concluded in 2023 that it would cost $12 billion to clean up Bayelsa state.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
“For example, after cleaning a window, I’ll let the paper towel dry and save it under the sink. Later, I use it to clean up muddy messes or pet accidents.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
In class, Mrs. Fisher makes sure we clean up our area and get the room looking decent.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
