clearing

noun

clear·​ing ˈklir-iŋ How to pronounce clearing (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for clearing

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clearing was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Clearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clearing. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

clearing

noun
clear·​ing ˈkli(ə)r-iŋ How to pronounce clearing (audio)
1
: the act or process of making or becoming clear
2
: an area of land cleared of wood and brush

More from Merriam-Webster on clearing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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