clear

1 of 4

adjective

1
a
: bright, luminous
bonfires clear and brightShakespeare
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
2
: clean, pure: such as
a
: free from blemishes
clear skin
b
: easily seen through : transparent
clear glass
clear plastic bags
c
: free from abnormal sounds on auscultation
3
a
: 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
4
a
: 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
g
: bare, denuded
clear ground
clearness noun

clear

2 of 4

adverb

1
: in a clear manner
to cry loud and clear
2
: all the way
drove clear across the state

clear

3 of 4

verb

cleared; clearing; clears

transitive verb

1
a
: to make clear or translucent
clear the water by filtering
b
: to free from pollution or cloudiness
clear the atmosphere
2
: to free from accusation or blame : exonerate, vindicate
the opportunity to clear himself
3
a
: to give insight to : enlighten
clear my mind about the new arrangement
b
: to make intelligible : explain
clear up the mystery
4
a
: 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
5
a
: to submit for approval
clear it with me first
b
: authorize, approve
cleared the article for publication
: such as
(1)
: to certify as trustworthy
clear a person for classified information
(2)
: to permit (an aircraft) to proceed usually with a specified action
the plane was cleared to land
6
a
: to free from obligation or encumbrance
b
: settle, discharge
clear an account
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
7
a
: 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

intransitive verb

1
a
: 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.
2
a
: 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.
clearable adjective

clear

4 of 4

noun

1
: a clear space or part
2
: a high arcing shot over an opponent's head in badminton
Phrases
clear the air or less commonly clear the atmosphere
: to remove elements of hostility, tension, confusion, or uncertainty
had a long meeting to clear the air
clear the decks
: to make sweeping preparations for action
in the clear
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
Choose the Right Synonym for clear

clear, transparent, translucent, limpid mean capable of being seen through.

clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

clear, perspicuous, lucid mean quickly and easily understood.

clear implies freedom from obscurity, ambiguity, or undue complexity.

clear instructions

perspicuous applies to a style that is simple and elegant as well as clear.

a perspicuous style

lucid suggests a clear logical coherence and evident order of arrangement.

a lucid explanation

synonyms see in addition evident

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
His childlike wonder drives the doc to intriguing places, but there’s not enough rigor here to bring any one insight into clear focus, only an unwieldy thesis about life (and capital-L Life, of course) that gets more and more diffuse the longer Kestner speaks. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 But as the job description posted on the career website Indeed last year made clear, these wouldn’t be just any cases. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Frustration with Washington and its allies was a clear undercurrent during the annual eight-day meeting of the top leadership that concluded in Beijing on Monday. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The reality of the situation, however, isn’t as clear as either Biden or Hur portrayed, according to a transcript of the interview released on Tuesday before the former special counsel testified on Capitol Hill. Chris Megerian, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favor of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act by a clear majority of 523 votes for, 46 against and 49 abstentions. Richard Smirke, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 Lee’s particular specs have clear lenses but bright frames in an orange hue that is one of the colors of his favorite team. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 Her ability to be present is a clear sign of the mental peace she’s attained. Celeste Polanco, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024 Whitworth saved a few galley proofs with notable Shawn comments on them, in Shawn’s small, clear handwriting. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
Adverb
The reaction to a possible rejection would be clear cut and likely see an immediate tumble, said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone. Reuters, NBC News, 2 Jan. 2024 The line of people waiting for a table at the Paris Coffee Shop on Saturday morning stretched back clear to the kitchen, as the front door swung open every few minutes. Jack Howland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Over the past two weeks, in nearly every public statement, Israeli leaders have made their future target in the war in Gaza clear: Rafah. Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024 The first bad sign was having to walk clear across the convention center to get there, cutting into her already brief pumping window. Tara Bannow, STAT, 18 Jan. 2024 For every $1,000 more that borrowers take out, one year is added to their repayment plan — so people who took out $14,000 could see their debt wiped clear after paying for 12 years. Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024 Incumbent district switchers Boebert’s move is a rare example of an incumbent lawmaker moving clear across the state to run in a different district. David Mark, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024 In contrast, some luxury brands are steering clear, suggesting that mass produced items run against the idea of rarity on which they are built. Yusuf Khan, WSJ, 10 Jan. 2024 Making the stakes clear requires taking Trump’s hair-raising promises seriously. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
Verb
In that case, Gravy cleared the underlying music (which Astley does not own) but failed to secure a license to sample the master. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 Having cleared the field, the Kremlin responds indignantly to suggestions that Russia’s democracy is fake. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 The bill has nearly cleared the Senate and should be in the Kentucky House of Representatives by the end of the week. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2024 Spokesperson Joshua Greengard from the Newhall CHP office said officers responded to the 911 call in minutes and were able to clear the two right lanes that were blocked in about half an hour. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The move could give them more power to clear encampments from around parks, schools, downtown zones and other high-profile areas. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 But in February, local residents voted against a motion to clear enough forest for Tesla to expand the site, leaving it to local authorities to decide how to proceed, according to Reuters. Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Part Two star used his latest SNL monologue to clear things up. Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Miami pushed for more goals in the second period and was rewarded when Jordi Alba’s fantastic run and shot was cleared onto the crossbar, only for Messi to bundle home the rebound with his chest. George Ramsay, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
Only Chloe sense its [clears throat] presence, at least until things start getting violently thrown around. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2024 Even with Marvel’s recommitment to compassion in the midst of conflict, the brand isn’t entirely in the clear. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2023 Holding all of these disparate ideas together is Vanillaware’s incredible 2D art, along with a clear to desire to experiment. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 23 Nov. 2023 On third-and-2, Alexander scooted into the clear to put HSE ahead 28-21 with 6:45 left. Matthew Glenesk, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2023 Outside: Keep a distance from power lines, poles, trees, bridges, buildings, signs and vehicles; stay in the clear. Cameron Fozi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2023 Three snaps earlier, Fields connected on a 48-yard deep ball to rookie Tyler Scott, who torched cornerback Greg Stroman with his release, then used his speed to break into the clear. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023 The boys of Fiji, as the frat was called, seemed to be in the clear. T.a. Frank, Washington Post, 28 June 2023 Alyssa Edwards, North Harford, senior, goalie Eighty-four saves, 27 clears and one caused turnover marked a strong senior season for Edwards. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, Verb, and Noun

Middle English clere, from Anglo-French cler, from Latin clarus clear, bright; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clear was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near clear

Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clear

1 of 4 adjective
1
a
: shining brightly : luminous
clear sunlight
b
: free from clouds, haze, dust, or mist
a clear day
c
: free from trouble : serene
a clear gaze
2
a
: free of blemishes
a clear complexion
b
: easily seen through : transparent
clear glass
3
: easily heard, seen, or understood
a clear voice
the meaning was clear
4
: free from doubt : sure
a clear understanding of the issue
5
: free from guilt : innocent
a clear conscience
6
: free from restriction or entanglement
a clear profit
the coast is clear
clearness noun

clear

2 of 4 adverb
1
: in a clear manner
shout loud and clear
2
: all the way : completely
can see clear to the mountains
the hole goes clear through

clear

3 of 4 verb
1
a
: to make or become clear
clear the water by filtering
the sky is clearing
b
: to go away : vanish
clouds cleared away after the rain
2
: to free from blame
cleared my name
3
: to make understandable : explain
cleared the matter up for me
4
a
: to free from things blocking
clear land for crops
clear a path
b
: to remove stored or displayed data from (as a computer or calculator)
5
: to give or get approval
the proposal cleared the committee
6
: to pay in full : settle
clear an account
7
: to go through customs
8
: net entry 4
cleared a profit
9
: to get rid of : remove
clear the dishes from the table
10
: to go over or by without touching
cleared the fence
clearable adjective
clearer noun

clear

4 of 4 noun
: a clear space or part
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English clere "clear, bright," from early French cler (same meaning), from Latin clarus "clear, bright" — related to clairvoyance, declare

Medical Definition

clear

1 of 2 adjective
1
a
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

2 of 2 transitive verb
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

Legal Definition

clear

adjective
1
: unencumbered by outstanding claims or interests
a search showed the title was clear
2
: free from doubt or ambiguity

More from Merriam-Webster on clear

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