cleanly
gb/klˈinli/ us/klˈinli/
B1
English
tisztán, tisztára, rendezetten, szépen, áttekinthetően, simán, tisztességesen, sportszerűen, szabályosan, egyértelműen, fölényesen, hibamentesen, nyom nélkül, maradéktalanul
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[do something] cleanly
She washed her hands cleanly before cooking.
Főzés előtt tisztára mosta a kezét.
The kitchen was kept cleanly, with counters wiped after every meal.
A konyhát tisztán tartották: minden étkezés után letörölték a pultokat.
He ate cleanly, without spilling sauce on his shirt.
Learner examples
Please wash the cups cleanly.
Kérlek, mosd tisztára a csészéket.
She keeps her room cleanly.
Tisztán tartja a szobáját.
Common mistake:
Learners may use the adjective clean instead of the adverb: say “work cleanly,” not “work clean.”
Meaning
without dirt or mess
Collocations
wash cleanly
|wipe cleanly
|cleanly washed
|cleanly rinsed
|cleanly scrubbed
|eat cleanly
|cleanly dressed
|cleanly kept
|cleanly maintained
|cleanly finished
Synonyms
clean (More general; often used as an adjective rather than an adverb.)
|
hygienically (Emphasizes health and cleanliness standards.)
Antonyms
dirty (Not clean; with dirt or stains.)
|
messily (Emphasizes creating or having a mess.)
Themes
daily_life
|home
|hygiene
Definition
in a way that is clean
In a clean way, without dirt, stains, or mess.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is arranged cleanly
The cables were routed cleanly behind the desk.
A kábeleket rendezetten vezették el az íróasztal mögött.
She presented her notes cleanly, with clear headings and spacing.
A jegyzeteit áttekinthetően rendezte el, világos címsorokkal és megfelelő térközökkel.
The apartment was decorated cleanly, with very little clutter.
Learner examples
He wrote his name cleanly on the form.
Szépen írta rá a nevét az űrlapra.
Common mistake:
Cleanly can mean “neatly,” not only “without dirt,” especially with design or layout.
Meaning
neatly and tidily
Collocations
cleanly arranged
|cleanly organized
|cleanly laid out
|cleanly presented
|cleanly written
|cleanly designed
|cleanly styled
|cleanly lined
|cleanly separated sections
|cleanly formatted
Synonyms
neatly (Most direct synonym for tidy arrangement.)
|
tidily (Emphasizes order and lack of clutter.)
Antonyms
messily (In a disorganized, untidy way.)
|
sloppily (Suggests careless untidiness.)
Themes
daily_life
|appearance
Definition
in a neat and tidy way
In a neat, orderly, and well-arranged way.
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[do something] cleanly
The scissors cut cleanly through the fabric.
Az olló simán átvágta az anyagot.
He hit the ball cleanly and sent it into the corner.
Tisztán találta el a labdát, és a sarokba küldte.
The gymnast landed cleanly after the jump.
Learner examples
The knife cut cleanly.
A kés simán vágott.
Common mistake:
Often used about actions (cutting, striking, catching), not only about cleanliness.
Meaning
smoothly and precisely
Collocations
cut cleanly
|slice cleanly
|snip cleanly
|hit cleanly
|strike cleanly
|catch cleanly
|land cleanly
|cleanly executed
|cleanly drilled hole
|cleanly machined
Synonyms
smoothly (Emphasizes lack of roughness or interruption.)
|
precisely (Emphasizes accuracy and exactness.)
Antonyms
clumsily (Without control or accuracy.)
|
roughly (With unevenness or tearing.)
Themes
sports
|crafts
|tools
Definition
smoothly and accurately
In a smooth, accurate, and controlled way, without wobbling, tearing, or unwanted contact.
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[play/compete/fight] cleanly
They played cleanly and accepted the referee’s decisions.
Sportszerűen játszottak, és elfogadták a bíró döntéseit.
If you compete cleanly, you don’t need to make excuses later.
Ha tisztességesen versenyzel, később nem kell kifogásokat keresned.
The match was fought cleanly, with no dirty tactics.
Learner examples
We should play cleanly.
Sportszerűen kellene játszanunk.
Common mistake:
In this sense, cleanly is about fairness, not physical dirt.
Meaning
fairly; without cheating
Collocations
play cleanly
|compete cleanly
|fight cleanly
|race cleanly
|campaign cleanly
|win cleanly
|cleanly earned
|cleanly conducted
|cleanly officiated
|cleanly judged
Synonyms
fairly (General word for following the rules.)
|
honestly (Emphasizes truthfulness and integrity.)
Antonyms
unfairly (Not according to the rules or equal treatment.)
|
dishonestly (With cheating or deception.)
Themes
sports
|ethics
|law
Definition
in a fair way; not cheating
In a fair and honest way, without cheating or breaking rules.
C1
5
Usage pattern:
[win/beat/defeat] [someone] cleanly
She won cleanly in the first round.
Már az első fordulóban egyértelműen győzött.
The home team beat their rivals cleanly, 4–0.
A hazai csapat simán, 4–0-ra verte meg riválisait.
He didn’t just edge past them—he defeated them cleanly.
Learner examples
Our team won cleanly.
A csapatunk egyértelműen nyert.
Common mistake:
This sense is about a clear outcome (a “clean win”), not about being neat or hygienic.
Meaning
decisively; without dispute
Collocations
win cleanly
|beat cleanly
|defeat cleanly
|outvote cleanly
|cleanly won
|cleanly defeated
|cleanly ahead
|cleanly overtake
|cleanly take the lead
|cleanly settle (a matter)
Synonyms
decisively (Emphasizes a strong, convincing result.)
|
clearly (Emphasizes lack of doubt or ambiguity.)
Antonyms
narrowly (By only a small margin.)
|
uncertainly (Without a clear or definite result.)
Themes
sports
|business
|news
Definition
clearly and strongly; by a clear result
Clearly and decisively, with no doubt about the result or outcome.
C1
TECHNICAL
6
szabályosan
B1
hibamentesen
B2
Usage pattern:
[system/program/process] [starts/stops/exits/shuts down] cleanly
After the update, the app finally opened and closed cleanly.
A frissítés után az alkalmazás végre hibamentesen megnyílt és szabályosan bezárult.
The script exited cleanly with status code zero.
A szkript szabályosan, 0-s kilépési kóddal fejeződött be.
If the server doesn’t shut down cleanly, the data can be corrupted.
Learner examples
The program exited cleanly.
A program szabályosan leállt.
Common mistake:
Often used with exit/shut down/terminate; not usually replaced by 'cleanly' in everyday non-technical contexts.
Meaning
without errors or problems
Collocations
exit cleanly
|shut down cleanly
|close cleanly
|terminate cleanly
|boot cleanly
|install cleanly
|uninstall cleanly
|cleanly restart
|cleanly recover
|cleanly compile
Synonyms
successfully (Focuses on achieving the intended result.)
|
smoothly (Focuses on lack of interruptions or glitches.)
Antonyms
badly (With problems or poor performance.)
|
erratically (In an unstable, unpredictable way.)
Themes
technology
|computing
Definition
without problems; with no errors
In a way that finishes or operates properly, without errors, crashes, or unwanted side effects.
C1
7
Usage pattern:
[something] [comes off/detaches/separates] cleanly
The sticker peeled off cleanly without leaving residue.
A matrica nyom nélkül lejött, nem hagyott ragasztómaradványt.
The connector detached cleanly when he pressed the release tab.
A csatlakozó simán levált, amikor megnyomta a kioldófület.
If the tooth doesn’t come out cleanly, the dentist may need to remove the rest.
Learner examples
The label came off cleanly.
A címke nyom nélkül lejött.
Common mistake:
In this sense, cleanly relates to completeness of separation, not to washing or hygiene.
Meaning
completely separated or removed
Collocations
detach cleanly
|separate cleanly
|come off cleanly
|pull off cleanly
|peel off cleanly
|remove cleanly
|cleanly detached
|cleanly severed
|cleanly separated
|cleanly removed
Synonyms
completely (Focuses on total removal, not on neatness.)
|
neatly (Focuses on lack of damage or residue.)
Antonyms
partially (Not fully removed or separated.)
|
raggedly (Separated with rough, torn edges.)
Themes
daily_life
|technology
|medicine
Definition
completely, with nothing left behind
Completely and neatly, so that something is fully separated, removed, or detached without leaving parts behind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cleanly
IPA
GB/klˈinli/
US/klˈinli/
Syllables & stress
cleanly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cleanly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cleanly
- Plural: cleanlies
Word family
Expressions
break cleanly
1/bɹˈeɪk klˈinli/
fixed phrase
separate neatly without splintering
to break neatly, not into rough pieces
Examples
- If you score the tile first, it should break cleanly.
- The branch didn’t break cleanly; it splintered and tore the bark.
- The glass broke cleanly into two large pieces.
Learner examples
- The stick broke cleanly.
cleanly shaven
1/klˈinli ʃˈeɪvən/
fixed phrase
with no beard or stubble
with no beard
Examples
- He was cleanly shaven for the interview.
- In the photo, she looks different because he’s cleanly shaven.
- The actor appeared cleanly shaven for the role.
Learner examples
- He is cleanly shaven.
cut cleanly
1/kˈʌt klˈinli/
fixed phrase
cut smoothly without tearing
to cut smoothly and neatly
Examples
- A sharp blade will cut cleanly through thick cardboard.
- The kitchen scissors didn’t cut cleanly, so the edge looked torn.
- Use steady pressure so the saw cuts cleanly.
Learner examples
- This knife cuts cleanly.
exit cleanly
1/ˈɛksɪt klˈinli/
fixed phrase
technical
close without errors
to close without problems
Examples
- The application exits cleanly when you click Quit.
- If the process doesn’t exit cleanly, restart the device.
- The test checks whether the program exits cleanly after the final step.
Learner examples
- The app exited cleanly.
get away cleanly
1/ɡˈɛt əwˈeɪ klˈinli/
fixed phrase
escape without harm or blame
to escape with no problems
Examples
- The driver lost control but got away cleanly with only a scratch.
- They thought they could cheat and get away cleanly, but they were reported.
- It’s rare to get away cleanly after a mistake like that.
Learner examples
- He got away cleanly.
win cleanly
1/wˈɪn klˈinli/
fixed phrase
win decisively and fairly
to win clearly, with no doubt
Examples
- She won cleanly and no one questioned the decision.
- The challenger won cleanly in a landslide.
- If you win cleanly, you don’t need to argue about the result.
Learner examples
- They won cleanly.