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 WebTaylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 21 May 2024
Her research, which showed that a drainage ditch at the site was leaking the chemicals, prompted a news story and contributed to a cleanup effort overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 20 May 2024
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
After more than a decade of cleanup work, the plant began discharging the water after treating it and diluting it with seawater on Aug. 24, starting a process that’s expected to take decades.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2024
Volunteer groups led by councilmembers will be planting trees, cleaning up Coyote Creek in a couple of spots, beautifying the Japanese Friendship Garden and Vietnamese Heritage Garden, painting and weeding in Kelley Park and picking up litter on Story Road and Roberts Avenue.
—Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleanup 
Noun
The change is meant to provide convenience for residents who need trash picked up after yard work projects, cleanups or holidays.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 21 May 2024
Her research, which showed that a drainage ditch at the site was leaking the chemicals, prompted a news story and contributed to a cleanup effort overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 20 May 2024
Adjective
Taylor Wilson: So what's next going forward, both for cleanup work and also these ongoing investigations?
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
After more than a decade of cleanup work, the plant began discharging the water after treating it and diluting it with seawater on Aug. 24, starting a process that’s expected to take decades.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
The Orange County Transportation Authority received a $1-million grant to conduct environmental site assessments and clean up its 18.78-acre OC Connect site in Garden Grove and Santa Ana, which is thought to be contaminated by an old railway and industrial waste.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2024
Volunteer groups led by councilmembers will be planting trees, cleaning up Coyote Creek in a couple of spots, beautifying the Japanese Friendship Garden and Vietnamese Heritage Garden, painting and weeding in Kelley Park and picking up litter on Story Road and Roberts Avenue.
—Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 23 May 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 6 Jun. 2024.
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