clear the way
idiom
1
: to make the area through which someone or something is trying to pass open and able to be used
She directed traffic to clear the way for the ambulance.
2
: to allow something to happen or develop
The truce would clear the way for further discussions between the two groups.
Examples of clear the way in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unfortunately, the lessons of 2025 prove that a handful of sellout lawmakers will stop at nothing to clear the way for unchecked profiteering at the expense of Florida communities.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
The project site was once the location of Andy’s Pet Shop, which was ousted from that location so the store structure could be bulldozed to clear the way for the development.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Giants fans who want Harbaugh should be rooting for the Green Bay Packers to beat the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, so that the Packers’ Matt LaFleur and the Bills’ Sean McDermott are not in jeopardy of immediate firings to clear the way for Harbaugh.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The tender, seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clear the way
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Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
The project site was once the location of Andy’s Pet Shop, which was ousted from that location so the store structure could be bulldozed to clear the way for the development.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Giants fans who want Harbaugh should be rooting for the Green Bay Packers to beat the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, so that the Packers’ Matt LaFleur and the Bills’ Sean McDermott are not in jeopardy of immediate firings to clear the way for Harbaugh.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
The tender, seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clear the way
Cite this Entry
“Clear the way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear%20the%20way. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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