clear
adjective
\
Definition of clear
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a : bright, luminous bonfires clear and bright— Shakespeare
b : cloudless specifically : less than one-tenth covered a clear sky
c : free from mist, haze, or dust a clear day
d : untroubled, serene a clear gaze
a : free from blemishes clear skin
b : easily seen through : transparent clear glass clear plastic bags
c : free from abnormal sounds on auscultation
3a : easily heard a loud and clear sound
b : easily visible : plain a clear signal
c : free from obscurity or ambiguity : easily understood : unmistakable a clear explanation
4a : capable of sharp discernment : keen a clear thinker
b : free from doubt : sure not clear on how to proceed
5 : free from guile or guilt : innocent a clear conscience
6 : unhampered by restriction or limitation: such as
a : free of debts or charges a clear estate
b : net a clear profit
c : unqualified, absolute a clear victory
d : free from obstruction clear passage
e : emptied of contents or cargo A ship is clear after unloading.
f : free from entanglement or contact staying clear of controversy keep clear of the boundary
clear
adverbDefinition of clear (Entry 2 of 4)
1 : in a clear manner to cry loud and clear
2 : all the way drove clear across the state
clear
verbDefinition of clear (Entry 3 of 4)
1a : to make clear or translucent clear the water by filtering
b : to free from pollution or cloudiness clear the atmosphere
3a : to give insight to : enlighten clear my mind about the new arrangement
b : to make intelligible : explain clear up the mystery
4a : to free from what obstructs or is unneeded: such as
(1) : open sense 1b clear a path
(2) : to remove unwanted growth or items from clear the land of timber
(3) : to rid or make a rasping noise as if ridding (the throat) of phlegm needed to clear my throat
(4) : to erase stored or displayed data from (a device, such as a computer or calculator)
b : to empty of occupants clear the room
c : disentangle clear a fishing line
d : to remove from an area or place clear the dishes from the table
5a : to submit for approval clear it with me first
6a : to free from obligation or encumbrance
c(1) : to free (a ship or shipment) by payment of duties or harbor fees
(2) : to pass through (customs)
d : to gain without deduction : net clear a profit
e : to put through a clearinghouse clear a check
7a : to go over, under, or by without touching the ball just cleared the uprights
b : to move through successfully : pass the bill cleared the legislature
1a : to become clear it cleared up quickly after the rain
b : to go away : vanish the symptoms cleared gradually
c : sell Hogs cleared at steady rates.
2a : to obtain permission to discharge cargo
b : to conform to regulations or pay requisite fees prior to leaving port The ship cleared yesterday and is ready to sail.
3 : to pass through a clearinghouse
4 : to go to an authority (as for approval) before becoming effective All tax bills must clear through our committee.
: to remove elements of hostility, tension, confusion, or uncertainty had a long meeting to clear the air
: to make sweeping preparations for action
clear
nounDefinition of clear (Entry 4 of 4)
1 : a clear space or part
2 : a high arcing shot over an opponent's head in badminton
1 : in inside measurement corridors three feet in the clear
2 : free from guilt or suspicion The jury's decision was that he was in the clear.
3 : in plaintext : not in code or cipher a message sent in the clear
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from clear
Adjective
Verb
\
adjective
\
noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for clear
Synonyms: Adjective
apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear-cut, crystal clear, decided, distinct, evident, lucid, luculent, luminous, manifest, nonambiguous, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, ringing, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unambivalent, unequivocal, unmistakable
Synonyms: Verb
accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK (or okay), ratify, sanction, warrant
Antonyms: Adjective
ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear, unclouded
Antonyms: Verb
decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of clear in a Sentence
Adjective
There are clear differences between the two candidates. She's the clear favorite to win the election. I'm not completely happy with the plan, but I see no clear alternative. He was the clear winner. She has made it abundantly clear that she does not support us. It's not clear how much longer we'll have to wait. “Changes will have to be made.” “Yes, that's clear.” Her writing has a clear style. The instructions weren't very clear about when we were supposed to begin. I think I have a clear understanding of the problem.Adverb
We drove clear across the state. The ball rolled clear across the street.Verb
The sky cleared after the rain. The weather is cloudy now, but it's clearing gradually. The morning fog gradually cleared. When the smoke cleared, we could see that the building had been completely destroyed. The water cleared after the mud had settled. My skin cleared when I started using the cream. They cleared timber from the land. She cleared everything out of the closet. I'll clear those books out of the way. The police ordered the crowd to clear the area.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
What does seem clear is that Ford is eager to add Spin’s scooters to its still-in-development mobility cloud. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Ford adds electric scooter startup to its growing mobility collection," 8 Nov. 2018 After talking to over 1,000 mammography technologists, radiologists and patients, the answer was clear: To make mammograms suck less, put the women having them in control. — Macaela Mackenzie, Glamour, "Mammograms Don't Have to Be So Terrible, Thanks to This Breakthrough Screening Technology," 30 Oct. 2018 The British line of succession is clear: Prince Charles will take over as king for Queen Elizabeth II, followed by Prince William, and eventually his son Prince George. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "This Is What Kate Middleton's Title Will Be When Prince William Becomes King," 25 Oct. 2018 After all, as the origin of the theory itself makes clear, quantum phenomena can lie just under our noses. — Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, "How Quantum Mechanics Lets Us See, Smell and Touch," 24 Oct. 2018 Things escalate quickly as the farmhouse’s history makes itself clear. 4. — Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, "16 Classic Halloween Movies You Can Stream Right Now," 17 Oct. 2018 The details of Carlson’s role have not been made clear. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Amy Carlson Cast in Her First TV Role Since 'Blue Bloods' Exit," 13 Oct. 2018 Turns out, there’s a reason for that—as this Reuters article makes clear. — Alan Murray, Fortune, "Trump and NATO, Papa John's Out, Broadcom Buys CA: CEO Daily for July 12, 2018," 12 July 2018 Beryl's impact on Haiti isn't clear as of Saturday morning. — Howard Cohen, miamiherald, "Beryl weakens to a tropical storm with winds up to 60 mph as it heads toward islands," 7 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
What's more clear-cut though is the fact that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, says Rita Kalyani, M.D., associate professor of medicine and physician of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Johns Hopkins University. — Colleen Stinchcombe, Woman's Day, "What's the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?," 10 Sep. 2018 On land, most of the island's Volcanoes National Park is still closed because of continuous eruptions, while the U.S. Coast Guard has established a safety zone at sea that boats must steer clear of. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Lava Bomb Hits Hawaiian Tour Boat Near Kilauea Volcano," 16 July 2018 But Republicans eager to undermine Mueller's investigation berated Strzok, citing the texts as evidence of partisan bias within a law enforcement agency supposed to steer clear of politics. — Author: Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick, Anchorage Daily News, "FBI agent clashes with GOP at hearing on Russia probe," 13 July 2018 This amid widespread concern that the country’s political debate is overheated and even dangerous -- to the point that many voters steer clear of talking politics with family and friends. — Dana Blanton, Fox News, "Fox News Poll: Democrats ahead in election enthusiasm, interest -- and the vote," 12 July 2018 Investors in Chinese car makers should steer clear of such potholes. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, "Chinese Auto Sales Run Into a Lending Roadblock," 10 July 2018 Have a national host immediately steer clear of any conversation of Joe Crede or Jermaine Dye. — Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Dan McNeil dishes on ’05 Sox, ’18 Cubs and what talk-radio hosts root for," 26 June 2018 Residents were asked to steer clear of the affected area. — Thomas Leavy, CBS News, "Natural gas pipeline explosion rocks rural Kansas," 15 June 2018 What was harder to anticipate was that his appetite for diplomatic destruction would reach clear back to the Treaty of Ghent. — Josh Gohlke, San Francisco Chronicle, "Last Word: Trump’s 1812 overturn," 8 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
First step, try to clear the blemishes on your own with a topical acne cream. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "Ear Pimples Are Real — Here's How to Get Rid of Them," 19 Sep. 2018 Sometimes, the storm is there to clear the path for the sunshine. — Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE.com, "Nicole Curtis Says She Will Keep Fighting for Her Family: ‘Sometimes the Storm Clears the Path’," 10 July 2018 Orlando City centerback Amro Tarek tried to clear a cross from Latif Blessing and instead sent it to the feet of LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye. — Jordan Culver, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando City falls 4-1 at LAFC, extends MLS losing streak," 9 July 2018 Flights have not yet been booked for the trip, but several people have been told to clear their calendars. — Steve Harrison And Jim Morrill, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte delegation plans to be there when RNC 2020 is announced next month," 29 June 2018 The pro-Kurdish HDP won 12%, enough to clear the electoral threshold and send 67 of its members to parliament. — The Economist, "Erdogan inaugurates a new political era in Turkey," 28 June 2018 Six months after marijuana was legalized, new safety and regulation laws take effect Sunday, and some Sacramento dispensaries are rushing to clear inventory that will no longer be salable come Sunday, July 1. — Julia Sclafani, sacbee, "Marijuana on clearance as dispensaries sell off inventory before new rules take effect," 28 June 2018 Administrators announced a pilot program to use goats to clear vegetation in two areas of the Hostess City in May, and according to Savannah’s official Instagram page, their new four-legged employees are already hard at work. — Southern Living, "The City of Savannah's Newest Landscapers Are a Team of 53 Hungry Goats," 27 June 2018 In the course of less than ten years, he was named as a defendant in four lawsuits filed by people alleging misconduct — he was cleared of wrongdoing in two, but settlements in the others have cost the city $250,000. — Ian Duncan, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore Police detective suspended after judge orders him to give up gun in domestic violence case," 13 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Domagoj Vida had seven clears from the Croatian defense. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "Croatia Digs Deeper, Burying England’s World Cup Dreams," 12 July 2018 One key in Sunday’s 10-9 overtime win against Georgetown was the Blue Jays’ ability to force the Hoyas into failing on five of 17 clears. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "Johns Hopkins vs. Duke men’s lacrosse: Three things to watch," 20 May 2018 Off the beaches, Spanish mackerel will turn on as soon as winds drop and water clears, and cobia are also in the area around markers and other structure. — Frank Sargeant, AL.com, "Friday Fishing Report," 20 Apr. 2018 Southampton remain rooted in 18th position in the league standings with six matches left of the 2017/18 campaign, and are five clears from safety ahead of the next round of fixtures. — SI.com, "Mark Hughes Hits Out at Poor Saints Showing in 3-0 Defeat to Fellow Strugglers West Ham," 1 Apr. 2018 United are currently second in the table, seven points clears of their north west rivals after seven games, level on points with neighbours Manchester City and trailing only on goal difference. — SI.com, "Jose Mourinho Reportedly Set for Bumper New 5-Year Manchester United Contract," 12 Oct. 2017 The Gladiators excelled on clears all afternoon, particularly buckling down any time the Seahawks made their way into the circle. — Brent Kennedy, Howard County Times, "Glenelg field hockey opens season with 3-1 win over South River," 5 Sep. 2017 Bill Martin, Academy Park, Sr. – Clears space for Kareem Burton & Co. Nafeei Minor, Simon Gratz, Sr. – — Rick O'brien, Philly.com, "Offensive linemen who will dominate the trenches," 20 Aug. 2017 North Carolina’s 9-0 run in the second half was assisted in part by a 10-man ride that seemed to cause problems for the Great Danes, who failed on four of eight clears in the third quarter. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "Albany vs. Maryland men's lacrosse: Three things to watch," 21 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for clear
clear
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of clear
(Entry 1 of 2)
: very obvious : not causing or allowing doubt
: easily understood
: free from doubt or confusion
clear
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of clear (Entry 2 of 2)
: in a clear manner
: all the way : completely or entirely
See the full definition for clear in the English Language Learners Dictionary
clear
adjective
\
Kids Definition of clear
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : easily heard, seen, noticed, or understood a clear definition The differences were clear. She spoke in a clear voice.
2 : free of clouds, haze, or mist a clear day
3 : free from feelings of guilt a clear conscience
4 : easily seen through clear water
5 : free from doubt or confusion : sure Are you clear on what you need to do?
6 : free of blemishes clear skin
7 : not blocked a clear path a clear view
8 : bright sense 1, luminous clear sunlight
clear
verbKids Definition of clear (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : to free of things blocking I cleared my throat.
2 : to make or become free of clouds, haze, or mist The sky cleared.
3 : to get rid of : remove Please clear dishes from the table.
4 : to go over or by without touching The ball I hit cleared the fence.
5 : to go away : disperse The crowd cleared rapidly.
6 : explain sense 1 We tried to clear the matter up.
7 : to free from blame The judge cleared my name.
8 : to approve or be approved by Our plane was cleared to land. Our proposal cleared the committee.
9 : to make as profit We cleared 85 dollars on the sale.
clear
adverbKids Definition of clear (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : in a way that is easy to hear loud and clear
2 : all the way I could hear you clear across the room.
clear
adjective
\
Medical Definition of clear
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a of the skin or complexion : good in texture and color and without blemish or discoloration
b of an animal coat : of uniform shade without spotting
2 : free from abnormal sounds on auscultation
clear
transitive verbMedical Definition of clear (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to render (a specimen for microscopic examination) transparent by the use of an agent (as an essential oil) that modifies the index of refraction
2 : to rid (the throat) of phlegm or of something that makes the voice indistinct or husky
Keep scrolling for more
clear
adjectiveLegal Definition of clear
1 : unencumbered by outstanding claims or interests a search showed the title was clear
2 : free from doubt or ambiguity
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on clear
What made you want to look up clear? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Difficult Vocab Quiz
-
- Which is a synonym of discomfit?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share clear
Resources for clear