clean
adjective
free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained.
was cleaning
-
past progressiveof clean.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Charlotte was cleaning out her parents’ garage last summer when she found a box of catalogs, circa 1996–1999. dELiA*s, MoxieGirl, Alloy — they were all there.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
“Look what I found when I was cleaning the yard?” he once said, holding up a 5-pound note.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 30, 2026
When I finally got one, Mr. Irmis was cleaning out his closet on the last day of school.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
Sabrina Medina, 28, was cleaning her patio Wednesday night when she saw a silver minivan slow down in front of her home in Huntington Park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2025
It was drizzling outside, and I was cleaning out my desk, and I just did not feel like going.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
