clean
kleen
Clean (adj) means Free of dirt, stains, or other unwanted matter. Example: “Make sure your hands are clean before you start cooking the dinner.”
adj
1
Free of dirt, stains, or other unwanted matter.
"Make sure your hands are clean before you start cooking the dinner."
"She put on a clean shirt before the interview."
"The kitchen counters were spotlessly clean."
2
Free of drugs, alcohol, or (of a criminal record) offenses.
"The athlete passed every test and was declared clean by the officials."
"He's been clean for three years now."
"She kept a clean driving record for two decades."
3
Done smoothly and without flaws or errors.
"The diver made a clean entry into the water with barely a splash."
"Her first draft was a clean piece of work, with no mistakes at all."
"It was a clean landing despite the crosswind."
verb
1
To remove dirt from something, or to tidy up a space.
"I always clean my glasses with a soft cloth to avoid scratches."
"Can you clean the bathroom before the guests arrive?"
"He spent Saturday cleaning out the garage."
How to use clean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFree of dirt or mess — or, more broadly, free of flaws, drugs, or wrongdoing.
Common mistake
As an adverb ("clean forgot," "hit clean through") it means "completely" — an older, informal usage still common in British English.
Common pairings
clean up
clean out
squeaky clean
clean record
clean break
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Word forms
- Plural
- cleans
- Third person singular
- cleans
- Past tense
- cleaned
- Comparative
- cleaner
- Superlative
- cleanest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Make sure your hands are _____ before you start cooking the dinner.
Etymology
From Old English clǣne, originally meaning "pure" or "shining."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for clean
See all rhymes for clean →Frequently asked questions
What does “clean” mean?
The word “clean” means free of dirt, stains, or other unwanted matter. In plain terms, free of dirt or mess — or, more broadly, free of flaws, drugs, or wrongdoing.
How do you pronounce “clean”?
“Clean” is pronounced kleen (/kliːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “clean” in a sentence?
Here is “clean” used in a sentence: “She put on a clean shirt before the interview.”
What is another word for “clean”?
Words with a similar meaning to “clean” include clean as a bean, clean as a hound's tooth, clean as a new penny, clean as a whistle, clean as a new pin and immaculate.
What is the opposite of “clean”?
The opposite of “clean” — its antonyms — are dirty and unclean.
What part of speech is “clean”?
Depending on how it is used, “clean” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “clean” come from?
The word “clean” comes from Old English. From Old English clǣne, originally meaning "pure" or "shining.".
Is “clean” a common word?
“Clean” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between clean and tidy?
'Clean' means free of dirt, dust and stains, while 'tidy' means neatly arranged and in order. The two are independent: a desk can be tidy but grimy, or spotlessly clean yet buried under scattered papers. Cleaning removes dirt; tidying puts things where they belong.
What are the different meanings of clean?
Beyond 'free of dirt,' 'clean' has several senses: fair and within the rules (a clean game), free of drugs or a criminal record (a clean history), morally decent (clean humour), and neat and simple in design (clean lines). Context tells you which meaning applies.
What is the opposite of clean?
The main opposite is 'dirty.' Depending on the sense, you might also use 'filthy,' 'grimy' or 'soiled' for heavy dirt, 'stained' or 'spotted' for marks, and 'contaminated' or 'polluted' for something unsafe. In the moral or sporting sense, the opposite of clean is 'dirty' or 'unfair' too.
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