clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈkler-ə-ˌfī 
ˈkla-rə-
clarified; clarifying
1
: to make understandable
clarify a subject
The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue.
2
: to free of confusion
needs time to clarify his thoughts
3
: to make (a liquid or something liquefied) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify syrup
: to become clear
waiting for the present muddled diplomatic situation to clarify—
Newsweek
Newsweek
Examples of clarify in a Sentence
Can you clarify exactly what it is you're proposing?
Her explanation did not clarify matters much.
The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue.
The committee clarified the manager's duties.
a substance used to clarify wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Related article Western officials warn munition shortages could be catastrophic for Ukraine as US stalls on providing more aid
No information is currently available on casualties and the extent of the damage is being clarified.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Wilson clarified that she’s spoken with the actor since then and had a much friendlier interaction.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
No, the doctor clarified, one was the lowest number.
—Teddy Wayne, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Leaders in Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the United States also clarified that sending troops to Ukraine was not on the table.
—Célia Belin, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
My bartenders are very sure to clarify what people want.
—Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
In 2009, a Newsom spokesperson clarified to the San Francisco Chronicle that he had merely been scouted, not drafted.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The streaming platform has also not yet clarified whether the series is limited or will have multiple seasons.
—USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The purpose of a vision board is to create a visual representation of your goals and desires, helping to clarify your intentions and keep them at the forefront of your mind.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Wilson clarified that she’s spoken with the actor since then and had a much friendlier interaction.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
No, the doctor clarified, one was the lowest number.
—Teddy Wayne, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Leaders in Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the United States also clarified that sending troops to Ukraine was not on the table.
—Célia Belin, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
My bartenders are very sure to clarify what people want.
—Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
In 2009, a Newsom spokesperson clarified to the San Francisco Chronicle that he had merely been scouted, not drafted.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The streaming platform has also not yet clarified whether the series is limited or will have multiple seasons.
—USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The purpose of a vision board is to create a visual representation of your goals and desires, helping to clarify your intentions and keep them at the forefront of your mind.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clarify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clarify
Cite this Entry
“Clarify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarify. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
1
: to make or become pure or clear
clarify a liquid
2
: to make or become easier to understand
clarify a statement
Medical Definition
clarify
verb
clar·i·fy
ˈklar-ə-ˌfī
clarified; clarifying
: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter
clarify sewage
: to become clear
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