American Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition clear in American English

clear verb

verb
/klɪr/
1

to remove people or things from a place where they are not wanted

Example

Millions of acres of tropical forest have been cleared.

Example

The ground should first be cleared of weeds.

Example

Julia began to clear the dishes from the table.

Example

He cleared a space on his desk for a cup of coffee.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

if a place clears, the people in it leave it

Example

The room cleared quickly after the final speeches.

Synonyms and related words
2

to remove something that is blocking a place such as a road or passage

Example

The police cleared a way through to the front of the building.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

to stop being blocked

Example

Eventually the roads cleared and the traffic began to flow again.

Synonyms and related words
3

to prove officially that someone did not do something wrong

Example

Yesterday the two men were cleared of murder.

Synonyms and related words
4

if the sky or the weather clears, the weather becomes brighter and there are no more clouds, rain, etc.

Example

The sky was beginning to clear.

Synonyms and related words
5

to give or obtain official permission for something to happen

Example

You'll have to clear this project with the head office.

Synonyms and related words
5.1

to give an airplane, ship, or person permission to enter or leave a place

Example

After half an hour the plane was cleared for take-off.

Synonyms and related words
5.2

to obtain permission to enter a country or take something into a country after being checked by officials

Example

Delays are often reported by passengers waiting to clear customs.

Example

Someone from the embassy helped us to clear our baggage through customs.

Synonyms and related words
6

if a check clears, or if a bank clears it, the bank allows the money to be used

Example

How long will the check take to clear?

Synonyms and related words
7

if your mind or head clears, or if it is cleared, it stops being confused, tired, or affected by something such as alcohol

Example

Clear your mind of all negative thoughts.

Synonyms and related words
8

to earn a particular amount of money after paying taxes, charges, or costs

Example

He clears about $500 a week.

Synonyms and related words
9

to pay back all of the money that you owe to the person you borrowed it from

Example

Try to clear your existing debts first.

Synonyms and related words
10

to go over, under, or past an object without touching it

Example

One horse failed to clear the gate and was injured.

Example

The aircraft cleared the houses by only a few feet.

Synonyms and related words
11

to deal successfully with a problem

Example

The company has cleared the main obstacle to concluding the sale.

Example

The first hurdle to clear is persuading investors of the merits of the product.

Synonyms and related words
12

to do all the work that you have to do

Example

Extra staff have had to be brought in to clear the backlog.

Synonyms and related words
13

if something such as smoke clears, it starts to disappear

Example

They waited while the mist cleared a little.

Synonyms and related words
14

if a liquid clears, it becomes transparent after being filled with extremely small pieces of a substance

Synonyms and related words
15

if your skin clears, it starts to become smooth and healthy again

Synonyms and related words
16

if someone's face clears, they stop looking annoyed, upset, or confused

Example

She frowned for a moment, then her brow cleared.

Synonyms and related words
Definition clear in American English