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 of clearing

• pardon
• forgiveness
• vindication
• acquittal
• exoneration

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

North Korea acknowledged this month that some of its troops deployed to Kursk had died while carrying out mine-clearing operations. —Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025

In the third period, Zadorov’s stick broke during a clearing attempt. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025

The slim eye-clearing needle on the other end is helpful for clearing hook eyes of resin and glue, too. —Francesca Krempa, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025

This round of consolidation looks more like a clearing of the decks before AI scrambles everything. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 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