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
Related Articles For me, this time of year is an opportunity to clean out the physical and electronic financial clutter in life, and to attend to some important to-dos.
—
Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
There was a flurry of activity lasting two days when a wren methodically cleaned out old feathers, droppings and dead insects, leaving behind a sparkling nest ready for the next brood, and likely the female was tucked inside during the latest cold, rainy and hailing night.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
Shoulder discomfort ahead of the 2021 season has since led two surgeries, first in 2021 to repair a capsular tear in his right shoulder and clean out the backside of the joint and then another in 2022 for right shoulder arthroscopic bursectomy.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024
The Lancaster terminal was cleaned out, and the doors rolled down and locked.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2024
Residue was also detected in the ductwork and was impossible to clean out, necessitating a full replacement of the ventilation system.
—Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024
Staff members cleaned out the locker — which was registered to Cradock — before university police arrived to check it out, according to the report.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Audubon suggests cleaning out a feeder every other week for seed and suet feeders.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024
And they were largely made possible by people cleaning out their closets and donating old sheets, which quilters use to back the quilts, and pieces of fabric used to make the quilt tops.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
There was a flurry of activity lasting two days when a wren methodically cleaned out old feathers, droppings and dead insects, leaving behind a sparkling nest ready for the next brood, and likely the female was tucked inside during the latest cold, rainy and hailing night.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
Shoulder discomfort ahead of the 2021 season has since led two surgeries, first in 2021 to repair a capsular tear in his right shoulder and clean out the backside of the joint and then another in 2022 for right shoulder arthroscopic bursectomy.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024
The Lancaster terminal was cleaned out, and the doors rolled down and locked.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2024
Residue was also detected in the ductwork and was impossible to clean out, necessitating a full replacement of the ventilation system.
—Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024
Staff members cleaned out the locker — which was registered to Cradock — before university police arrived to check it out, according to the report.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Audubon suggests cleaning out a feeder every other week for seed and suet feeders.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024
And they were largely made possible by people cleaning out their closets and donating old sheets, which quilters use to back the quilts, and pieces of fabric used to make the quilt tops.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clean out.' 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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“Clean out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean%20out. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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