Phrasal verb
clean up
Definition
phrasal verb. to make a place or person clean and tidy by removing dirt or mess. You use this when you want to fix a messy room or get clean after a dirty job.
phrasal verb. to remove dirt, mess, or unwanted items from a place or person. The verb is optionally transitive and often implies a restorative action to return a space to its original state.
Examples
“We need to clean up the kitchen after dinner.”
“After the party ended at midnight, the hosts spent an hour cleaning up the living room and washing the glasses.”
“The local government launched a massive initiative to clean up the industrial waste that had accumulated along the riverbanks over several decades.”
Examples
simple
“We need to clean up the kitchen after dinner.”
contextual
“After the party ended at midnight, the hosts spent an hour cleaning up the living room and washing the glasses.”
complex
“The local government launched a massive initiative to clean up the industrial waste that had accumulated along the riverbanks over several decades.”
Usage
The object can sit between 'clean' and 'up' or after the whole phrase.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'clean' to show that 'clean up' often focuses on the act of tidying a specific mess rather than routine maintenance.
Pitfall
I need to clean up my hands.
I need to wash my hands.
Learners often use 'clean up' for body parts when 'wash' is the standard collocation for personal hygiene.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
clean + up + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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