clear up

phrasal verb

cleared up; clearing up; clears up

1

of weather or the sky : to change so that there are no clouds, fog, etc.

The sky cleared up after the rain.

It's cloudy now, but it's clearing up gradually.

2

of the skin : to become free of marks or spots

My skin cleared up when I started using the cream.

3

: to go away

My symptoms cleared up once I started using the cream.

4

British : to make an area clean or tidy

Let's clear up before we leave.

Examples of clear up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The issues started to clear up as Demary’s comfortability in the system grew, with the Georgia transfer starring and playing over 30 minutes in each of the next three games. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2026

The Tables Turn Against Adriana And Cooper While at the police station, officers are photographing Ariana’s graphic injuries and asking her questions, while detectives ask to clear up some details with Cooper. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026

For more affordable finds, pick up this handy surge protector to clear up cable traffic, as well as this magnetic wireless charger that can give your phone, smartwatch, or earbuds a convenient, clean-looking boost. —Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026

Nacua and Rose were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and released in December, the sheriff’s department said, and have now cleared up the misunderstanding through interviews with the sheriff’s department. —Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for clear up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup