clear out

verb

cleared out; clearing out; clears out

intransitive verb

: depart

transitive verb

: to drive out or away usually forcibly

Synonyms of clear out

• disperse

Examples of clear out in a Sentence

police used tear gas to clear out the demonstrators

everyone cleared out as soon as the fire alarm began sounding

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of this, south of the Litani, had been cleared out. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026

LaBonia remains in his position, though his office at WLRN’s studio in Miami was cleared out last month, prompting speculation about his future. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026

Caltrans says crews are clearing out 27 acres for a safety improvement project, but not all the neighbors are on board. —Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

Walk the perimeter and clear out anything that doesn’t belong. —Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for clear out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

clear out

verb

1

: to go or run away often suddenly or secretly

a horse broke loose and cleared out

cleared out without paying me back

2

: to drive out or away usually with force

police cleared out the demonstrators