Clean vs. Cleaned: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
"Clean" is an adjective or verb describing a state of purity or act of removing dirt; "Cleaned" is the past tense of the verb form, indicating the action has occurred.
Key Differences
"Clean" and "Cleaned" both originate from the same root word but serve distinct grammatical purposes. "Clean" can function as an adjective, describing the state of something. For instance, a shirt that is free of stains is a clean shirt. On the other hand, "Cleaned" is purely a verb, and more specifically, it's the past tense of the verb "clean." If someone has taken action to remove dirt from a shirt, then they have cleaned the shirt.
While "Clean" can illustrate the current state of an object or place, it can also denote the action in present tense. Saying "I clean my room every weekend" describes a habitual action. In contrast, "Cleaned" always references a past event. When one says "I cleaned my room last weekend," it informs that the action is complete.
The versatility of "Clean" is noteworthy. It isn't just restricted to physical purity; it can also suggest moral purity or innocence. For example, "He has a clean record" implies the absence of criminal history. "Cleaned," being a verb, doesn't have this adaptability. It's solely about the act of cleaning and is fixed in the past.
In a nutshell, while "Clean" can be both an action (verb) in the present or a descriptor (adjective), "Cleaned" is strictly a past-tense verb, indicating an action that has already been done.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Function
Adjective or present tense verb
Past tense verb
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Temporal Reference
Present or general
Past
Examples of Usage
"clean shirt," "I clean daily"
"shirt was cleaned," "I cleaned yesterday"
Versatility
Can refer to moral purity or innocence
Refers to the act of cleaning only
Contextual Application
Describes current state or ongoing action
Indicates an action that has been completed
Clean and Cleaned Definitions
Clean
Free from dirt or impurities.
The room is clean.
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Cleaned
Denotes a finished act of purification.
The water was cleaned using a filter.
Clean
Not contaminated or polluted.
Clean water is essential for health.
Cleaned
The result of a cleaning process.
The cleaned surfaces shone brightly.
Clean
Morally uncontaminated or innocent.
He has a clean conscience.
Cleaned
The consequence of removing unwanted elements.
He cleaned the list of any errors.
Clean
Free from added substances.
This product is clean of chemicals.
Cleaned
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Clean
Free from dirt, stain, or impurities; unsoiled
A clean kitchen floor.
Clean clothes.
Cleaned
Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated
Clean air.
Clean drinking water.
Clean
Free from foreign matter or pollution; unadulterated
Clean air.
Clean drinking water.
Cleaned
Not infected
A clean wound.
Clean
Not infected
A clean wound.
Cleaned
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Clean
Producing relatively little pollution
A clean fuel.
A cleaner, more efficient engine.
Cleaned
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Clean
Producing relatively little radioactive fallout or contamination
A clean nuclear bomb.
Cleaned
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Clean
Having no imperfections or blemishes; regular or even
A clean edge.
A smooth, clean joint.
Cleaned
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Clean
Not ornate or intricate; spare
"the clean lines and exquisite proportions of early modernism" (Judith Thurman).
Cleaned
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Clean
Sharply defined; clear-cut
A clean outline against the sky.
Cleaned
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Clean
Free from clumsiness; deft; adroit
A clean throw.
Cleaned
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Clean
Devoid of restrictions or encumbrances
A clean bill of health.
Cleaned
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Clean
Thorough; complete
A clean getaway.
Cleaned
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Clean
Having few alterations or corrections; legible
Clean manuscript.
Cleaned
Blank
A clean page.
Clean
Blank
A clean page.
Cleaned
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Clean
Morally pure; virtuous
Led a clean life.
Cleaned
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Clean
Having no marks of discredit or offense
A clean voting record.
Cleaned
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Clean
Fit for all readers, listeners, or audiences; not ribald or obscene
A clean joke.
Cleaned
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Clean
Honest or fair
A clean fighter.
A clean competition.
Cleaned
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons or drugs.
Cleaned
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Clean
Innocent of a suspected crime.
Cleaned
Free from narcotics addiction.
Clean
Free from narcotics addiction.
Cleaned
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Clean
Showing no evidence of using banned or performance-enhancing substances
Proven to be clean before the race.
Cleaned
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Clean
So as to be unsoiled
Wash the dishes clean.
Cleaned
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Clean
In a fair manner
Played the game clean.
Cleaned
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Clean
In a clean or nonpolluting manner
A fuel that burns clean.
Cleaned
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Clean
(Informal) Entirely; wholly
Clean forgot the appointment.
Cleaned
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Clean
To rid of dirt, rubbish, or impurities
Clean a room.
Clean a suit.
Cleaned
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Clean
To get rid of (impurities or dirt, for example); remove
Cleaned up the trash.
Cleaned off the stains.
Cleaned
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Clean
To prepare (fowl or other food) for cooking, as by removing the entrails or fat.
Cleaned
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Clean
To remove the contents from; empty
Cleaned my plate.
Cleaned
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Clean
(Sports) To lift (a barbell) from the floor to the shoulders in one motion.
Cleaned
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Clean
To undergo or perform an act of cleaning.
Cleaned
Simple past tense and past participle of clean
Clean
Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.
Cleaned
Having been made clean.
Clean
Not dirty.
Are these dishes clean?
Your room is finally clean!
Cleaned
Made clean
Clean
In an unmarked condition.
Put a clean sheet of paper into the printer.
Cleaned
Past tense verb indicating the act of removing dirt.
He cleaned the kitchen.
Clean
(aerodynamics) Allowing an uninterrupted flow over surfaces, without protrusions such as racks or landing gear.
Cleaned
Indicates a completed action of making something tidy.
The house was cleaned yesterday.
Clean
(aviation) Having the undercarriage and flaps in the up position.
Clean
Empty.
The cargo hold is clean.
Mister, I want to see a clean dinner plate or there'll be no dessert for you.
Clean
(of metal) Having relatively few impurities.
Clean steel
Clean
Free of immorality or criminality.
Clean
Pure, especially morally or religiously.
Our kids can watch this movie because it is clean.
Clean
Not having used drugs or alcohol.
I've been clean this time for eight months.
Clean
(of criminal, driving, etc. records) Without restrictions or penalties, or someone having such a record.
Unlike you, I’ve never caused any accidents — my record is still clean!
Clean
(informal) Not in possession of weapons or contraband such as drugs.
I'm clean, officer. You can go ahead and search me if you want.
Clean
(informal) Devoid of profanity.
Clean
Smooth, exact, and performed well.
I'll need a sharper knife to make clean cuts.
A clean leap over a fence
Clean
(obsolete) Total; utter. still in "clean sweep"
Clean
(informal) Cool or neat.
Wow, Dude, those are some clean shoes ya got there!
Clean
(health) Being free of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
I want to make sure my fiancé is clean before we are married.
Clean
That does not damage the environment.
Clean energy;
Clean coal
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects.
Clean land;
Clean timber
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely.
Clean limbs
Clean
Ascended without falling.
Clean
Removal of dirt.
This place needs a clean.
Clean
(weightlifting) The first part of the event clean and jerk in which the weight is brought from the ground to the shoulders.
Clean
(transitive) To remove dirt from a place or object.
Can you clean the windows today?
Clean
(transitive) To tidy up, make a place neat.
Clean your room right now!
Clean
To remove equipment from a climbing route after it was previously lead climbed.
Clean
(intransitive) To make things clean in general.
She just likes to clean. That’s why I married her.
Clean
To remove unnecessary files, etc. from (a directory, etc.).
Clean
To brush the ice lightly in front of a moving rock to remove any debris and ensure a correct line; less vigorous than a sweep.
Clean
To purge a raw of any blemishes caused by the scanning process such as brown tinting and poor color contrast.
Clean
(video games) clean up
Clean
To remove guts and/or scales of a butchered animal.
Clean
Fully and completely.
He was stabbed clean through.
You must be clean mad.
Clean
Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
Clean
Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
Clean
Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
Clean
Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
Clean
Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field.
Clean
Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven
Clean
Free from ceremonial defilement.
Clean
Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy.
Clean
Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
Clean
Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Clean
Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously.
Clean
To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
Clean
A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
Clean
Make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from;
Clean the stove!
The dentist cleaned my teeth
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Clean
Clean and tidy up the house;
She housecleans every week
Clean
Clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing;
Clean up before you see your grandparents
Clean your fingernails before dinner
Clean
Be cleanable;
This stove cleans easily
Clean
Deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.;
The other players cleaned him completely
Clean
Remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely;
The boys cleaned the sandwich platters
The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm
Clean
Remove while making clean;
Clean the spots off the rug
Clean
Remove unwanted substances from
Clean
Remove shells or husks from;
Clean grain before milling it
Clean
Free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits;
Children with clean shining faces
Clean white shirts
Clean dishes
A spotlessly clean house
Cats are clean animals
Clean
Free of restrictions or qualifications;
A clean bill of health
A clear winner
Clean
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims;
Efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Clear laughter like a waterfall
Clear reds and blues
A light lilting voice like a silver bell
Clean
Free from impurities;
Clean water
Fresh air
Clean
Without difficulties or problems;
A clean test flight
Clean
Ritually clean or pure
Clean
Not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination;
A clean fuel
Cleaner and more efficient engines
The tactical bomb is reasonably clean
Clean
(of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers;
Good clean fun
A clean joke
Clean
Free from sepsis or infection;
A clean (or uninfected) wound
Clean
Morally pure;
Led a clean life
Clean
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Clean
Of a surface; not written or printed on;
Blank pages
Fill in the blank spaces
A clean page
Wide white margins
Clean
Marked by or calling for sportsmanship or fair play;
A clean fight
A sporting solution of the disagreement
Sportsmanlike conduct
Clean
Thorough and without qualification;
A clean getaway
A clean sweep
A clean break
Clean
(of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense;
A clean voting recor
A clean driver's license
Clean
Not carrying concealed weapons
Clean
Free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed;
He landed a clean left on his opponent's cheek
A clean throw
The neat exactness of the surgeon's knife
Clean
Free of drugs;
After a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years
Clean
Completely; used as intensifiers;
Clean forgot the appointment
I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out
Clean
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Clean
Complete or thorough.
It was a clean break.
FAQs
Is "Clean" a verb or an adjective?
"Clean" can be both a verb (to clean) and an adjective (free from dirt).
Is "Cleaned" ever used as an adjective?
Typically, "cleaned" is used as a verb, but in constructions like "cleaned surface," it functions adjectivally.
What does "Cleaned" refer to?
"Cleaned" is the past tense of the verb "clean," indicating a past cleaning action.
How do you use "Clean" in present tense?
As a verb, you can say "I clean my room every day."
Does "Clean" always mean the absence of dirt?
No, it can also mean free from unwanted elements, like "clean energy."
Can "Clean" refer to moral purity?
Yes, for example, "a clean record" indicates no past wrongdoings.
If I just finished cleaning, which term should I use?
"Cleaned," as in "I just cleaned the house."
Can "Cleaned" be used to refer to refining data or lists?
Yes, like in "I cleaned the data of any anomalies."
When would you use "Cleaned" in a sentence?
When referring to a past cleaning action, like "I cleaned my room."
Can "Clean" describe someone's health?
Yes, especially in contexts like "clean bill of health."
What does "cleaned up" imply?
It often means something has been made neater, tidier, or more presentable.
If an operation removed all of a particular item, which term fits best?
"Cleaned out," like "The sale cleaned out all the stock."
Can "Clean" indicate thoroughness?
Yes, in contexts like "a clean sweep," it indicates thoroughness.
What does it mean if food is labeled "clean"?
It often means the food is free from artificial additives or contaminants.
If a process has been completed and everything is orderly, which word should I use?
"Cleaned," like "The data has been cleaned and organized."
Can "Clean" describe a sound?
Yes, "a clean sound" often refers to a sound without distortion.
How is "Clean" used in sports terminology?
"Clean" can indicate a flawless performance, like a "clean round" in show jumping.
How does "Cleaned out" differ from "Cleaned"?
"Cleaned out" often means emptied completely, especially in terms of money or resources.
Can "Cleaned" indicate an act of restoration?
Yes, as in "The painting was cleaned and restored."
Can "Clean" describe a method or approach?
Yes, as in "a clean approach," indicating clarity and simplicity.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
