clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈklir-iŋ 

1

: the act or process of making or becoming clear

2

: a tract of land cleared of wood and brush

3

: the settlement of accounts or exchange of financial instruments especially between banks

Synonyms

• acquittal
• exculpation
• exoneration
• vindication

Examples of clearing in a Sentence

the clearing of the table

the clearing of wood and brush from part of the forest

We found a clearing in the forest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Activists have criticized clearing acres of trees, said that a firing range on campus could be dangerous and that the project would change the Matthews campus’ culture for the worse. —Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2025

The program shells out roughly $20 million each year on individualized home safety assessments, home hardening and vegetation clearing grants and evacuation route clearing operations. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025

Pro-Russian Telegram channels cited by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have said that Moscow's forces continue to conduct clearing operations near Gornal and Oleshnya, southwest of Sudzha. —Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

His backhand clearing attempt was knocked down easily on the way to Buchnevich’s first goal, while a poor neutral zone sort out contributed to Fowler’s 3-0 goal later in the frame. —Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clearing

• clearing bank

Rhymes for clearing

• cheering
• earing
• earring
• fearing
• gearing
• hearing
• jeering
• leering
• nearing
• peering
• rearing
• searing

Kids Definition

clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈkli(ə)r-iŋ 

1

: the act or process of making or becoming clear

2

: an area of land cleared of wood and brush