clear up

phrasal verb

cleared up; clearing up; clears up

of weather or the sky : to change so that there are no clouds, fog, etc.

The sky cleared up after the rain.

It's cloudy now, but it's clearing up gradually.

of the skin : to become free of marks or spots

My skin cleared up when I started using the cream.

: to go away

My symptoms cleared up once I started using the cream.

British : to make an area clean or tidy

Let's clear up before we leave.

Examples of clear up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These thunderstorms are expected to clear up overnight, leading to a clear day Saturday. —

Zoe Takaki, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024 The court ordered a hearing to clear up what was done and what wasn’t and Phillips didn’t file a witness list, exhibit list or even show up for the hearing. —

David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024 Kate Beckinsale is clearing up plastic surgery accusations — and calling out her bullies. —

Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024 Although the study cleared up some confusion, the work raised other questions. —

Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024 There are some off-the-field and durability concerns that need to be cleared up, but the five-year starter was a dynamic playmaker for the Aggies. —

Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024 The rash usually clears up without treatment after one to five months. —

Karyn Repinski, Health, 19 Apr. 2024 Welcome news arrives during the sun’s alignment with retrograde Mercury, clearing up confusion. —

USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024 Light snow accumulations between 3 to 6 inches are possible for those areas before things begin to clear up Saturday evening. —

Taylor Ward, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.