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
NewsweekExamples 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
Tribal governments have said that their participation in 8(a) was authorized by Congress, and SBA officials clarified last year that the administration’s anti-DEI executive order would not affect services provided to Native Americans.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Officials also clarified citations would function as civil penalties similar to parking tickets rather than criminal violations.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
Now Valenta hopes the ongoing research helps clarify the exact mechanisms by which fandom leads to people having stronger social bonds.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
Although studying weird worlds such as L 98-59 d will probably help to clarify how planets evolve, researchers are still working to understand this particular one.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clarify
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Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Officials also clarified citations would function as civil penalties similar to parking tickets rather than criminal violations.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
Now Valenta hopes the ongoing research helps clarify the exact mechanisms by which fandom leads to people having stronger social bonds.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
Although studying weird worlds such as L 98-59 d will probably help to clarify how planets evolve, researchers are still working to understand this particular one.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clarify
Cite this Entry
“Clarify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clarify. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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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